System for monitoring whether a surgical instrument needs to be serviced

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed which comprises a handle module that is attachable to a detachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgical procedure and an inspection station for connection to the handle module when the handle module is not being used in a surgical procedure. The handle module comprises a handle module memory circuit for storing handle module usage data for the handle module. The inspection station comprises an inspection station processor circuit for determining one or more service recommendations for the handle module based on the handle module usage data stored in the memory of the handle module and based on service recommendation criteria.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to surgical instruments and, in variousembodiments, to surgical stapling and cutting instruments and staplecartridges for use therewith.

A stapling instrument can include a pair of cooperating elongate jawmembers, wherein each jaw member can be adapted to be inserted into apatient and positioned relative to tissue that is to be stapled and/orincised. In various embodiments, one of the jaw members can support astaple cartridge with at least two laterally spaced rows of staplescontained therein, and the other jaw member can support an anvil withstaple-forming pockets aligned with the rows of staples in the staplecartridge. Generally, the stapling instrument can further include apusher bar and a knife blade which are slidable relative to the jawmembers to sequentially eject the staples from the staple cartridge viacamming surfaces on the pusher bar and/or camming surfaces on a wedgesled that is pushed by the pusher bar. In at least one embodiment, thecamming surfaces can be configured to activate a plurality of stapledrivers carried by the cartridge and associated with the staples inorder to push the staples against the anvil and form laterally spacedrows of deformed staples in the tissue gripped between the jaw members.In at least one embodiment, the knife blade can trail the cammingsurfaces and cut the tissue along a line between the staple rows.Examples of such stapling instruments are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,794,475, entitled SURGICAL STAPLES HAVING COMPRESSIBLE OR CRUSHABLEMEMBERS FOR SECURING TISSUE THEREIN AND STAPLING INSTRUMENTS FORDEPLOYING THE SAME, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein.

The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate various aspectsof the related art in the field of the invention at the time, and shouldnot be taken as a disavowal of claim scope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various features of the embodiments described herein, together withadvantages thereof, may be understood in accordance with the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings asfollows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular surgical system including amotor-driven handle module and three interchangeable detachable shaftmodules;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the handle module of FIG. 1 with aportion of the handle housing removed for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded assembly view of the handle module of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is another partial exploded assembly view of the handle module ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the handle module of FIG. 1 with aportion of the handle housing removed;

FIG. 6 is an exploded assembly view of a mechanical coupling system foroperably coupling the rotary drive systems of the handle module of FIG.1 to the drive systems of a detachable shaft module;

FIG. 7 is block diagram depicting electrical components of the handlemodule of FIG. 1 and the detachable shaft module;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a process flow executed by a handle processor ofthe handle module of FIG. 1 to determine when the handle module reachesits end of life;

FIG. 9 is another diagram of a process flow executed by the handleprocessor of the handle module of FIG. 1 to determine when the handlemodule reaches its end of life;

FIG. 10A is a chart showing differences between the expected firing andretraction forces to be applied by the handle module of FIG. 1 and theactual firing and retraction forces applied by the handle module as afunction of the stroke of the shaft module;

FIG. 10B is a diagram of a process flow executed by the handle processorof the handle module of FIG. 1 to determine when the handle modulereaches its end of life based on the differences between the expectedfiring and retraction forces to be applied by the handle module of FIG.1 and the actual firing and retraction forces applied by the handlemodule;

FIG. 10C is a diagram of a process flow executed by the handle processorof the handle module of FIG. 1 to determine when the handle modulereaches its end of life based on the energy expended by the handlemodule during use, in aggregate, and the energy expended by the handlemodule during each use;

FIG. 10D is a chart showing an example of the energy expended by thehandle module over a number of device activations, in aggregate;

FIG. 10E is a chart showing an example of the power expended during eachactivation of the handle module of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a sterilization tray in which a handlemodule may be inserted for sterilization;

FIGS. 11C and 11D illustrate a sterilization tray in which a handlemodule and a detachable shaft module may be inserted for sterilization;

FIG. 11E illustrates another sterilization tray in which a handle modulemay be inserted for sterilization;

FIGS. 11F, 11G, 11H, and 11I illustrate aspects of the sterilizationtray of FIG. 11E interfacing with a handle module;

FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12E illustrate an inspection station for inspecting ahandle module before, during, and/or following a surgical procedure;

FIG. 12C is a block diagram of the inspection station and the handlemodule;

FIG. 12D is a diagram of a process flow executed by the handle processorof the handle module to determine when the handle module reaches its endof life based on a number of times the handle module is placed on theinspection station;

FIG. 13A is a block diagram illustrating aspects of a handle module anda removable battery pack, where the battery pack includes anidentification emitter so that the handle module can identify thebattery pack;

FIG. 13B illustrates a process flow executed by the handle processor ofthe handle module of FIG. 13A to determine when the handle modulereaches its end of life based on a number of times a battery pack hasbeen installed in the handle module;

FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C illustrate aspects of a handle module thatdetects the attachment of a detachable shaft module thereto;

FIG. 14D illustrates a handle module and a detachable shaft module,where the handle module detects attachment of the detachable shaftmodule thereto;

FIG. 14E illustrates the handle module of FIG. 14D, where the handlemodule also detects attachment of a removable battery pack;

FIGS. 14F and 14G illustrate a sensor for the handle module of FIG. 14Dto detect the insertion of a removable battery pack therein;

FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate another sensor for the handle module todetect the insertion of a removable battery pack therein;

FIG. 16 illustrates a handle module with multiple power packs;

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate additional process flows executed by thehandle processor of a handle module to determine when the handle modulereaches its end of life;

FIGS. 18A, 18B and 18C illustrate a handle module that with a mechanismthat prevents the insertion of a battery pack in certain circumstances;

FIGS. 18D and 18E illustrate a mechanism of the handle module of FIG.18A that prevents removal of the battery pack from the handle module incertain circumstances;

FIGS. 19A, 19B and 19C illustrate a charging station and a handlemodule, where the charging station is for charging a battery pack of thehandle module;

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate a handle module with sterilization coversfor covering components of the handle module during the sterilizationthereof;

FIG. 20C illustrates a sterilization cover for a battery cavity of thehandle module of FIG. 20A;

FIG. 20D illustrates a removable battery pack for the handle module ofFIG. 20A;

FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C and 21D illustrate display configurations for asurgical instrument comprising a handle module and a detachable shaftmodule;

FIG. 22 illustrates a removable battery pack with an internal circuitboard;

FIG. 23A illustrates a handle module with a projecting device that, whenprojected, prevents insertion of the handle module into a sterilizationtray;

FIG. 23B illustrates the handle module of FIG. 23A and a sterilizationtray;

FIGS. 24A and 24B illustrate a handle module inspection station forapplying vacuum pressure to a handle module;

FIGS. 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D illustrate a handle module inspectionstation with one or more fans for drying the handle module;

FIG. 25E illustrates an inspection station with a vacuum port to dry ahandle module;

FIGS. 26A, 26B and 26C illustrate an inspection station, a handlemodule, and a load simulation adapter for applying a simulated load tothe handle module when the handle module is connected to the inspectionstation;

FIG. 26D is a cross-sectional view of the load simulation adapter ofFIGS. 26A-26C;

FIG. 26E is a chart illustrating a sample model of gear backlash for ahandle module as a function of use;

FIGS. 27A and 27B illustrate an inspection station that can accommodateboth a handle module and a detachable shaft module;

FIG. 28A illustrates a process flow executed by an inspection stationprocessor to make service recommendations for a handle module;

FIG. 28B illustrates a process flow executed by a handle moduleprocessor to make service recommendations for a handle module;

FIG. 29A illustrates a charging station for charging one or moreremovable battery packs that can be used in a handle module;

FIGS. 29B and 29C illustrate a mechanism of the charging station forsecuring a battery pack to the charging station;

FIG. 29D is a block diagram of the charging station and a battery pack;

FIG. 29E illustrates a process flow executed by a handle module chargingstation;

FIGS. 30A and 30B illustrate process flows executed by a handle modulecharging station;

FIGS. 31 and 32 are electrical schematic diagrams of a charging station;

FIG. 33A is a top view of a battery pack;

FIG. 33B is a top view of a charging station showing its contactconfiguration for the battery pack of FIG. 33A;

FIG. 34A is a top view of a battery pack;

FIG. 34B is a top view of a charging station showing its contactconfiguration for the battery pack of FIG. 34A;

FIG. 35 is a flow chart of a process using an inspection station;

FIGS. 36 and 37 are process flow charts illustrating exemplary steps forsterilizing a handle module and tracking the number of times it issterilized;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a battery assembly for use with asurgical instrument, wherein the battery assembly comprises a pluralityof shock absorbing elements, according to at least one embodiment;

FIG. 38A is a detail cross-sectional view of one of the shock absorbingelements of the battery assembly of FIG. 38;

FIG. 39 is a partial cross-sectional view of the battery assembly ofFIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a battery assembly for use with asurgical instrument comprising a battery housing configured to protectone or more battery cells of the battery assembly;

FIG. 40A is a detail cross-sectional view of the battery assembly ofFIG. 40;

FIG. 41 illustrates a handle of a surgical instrument system including apower adapter extending from the handle to a power source in accordancewith at least one embodiment;

FIG. 42 illustrates the handle of FIG. 41 which is selectively usablewith the power adapter of FIG. 41 or a power adapter system including aremovable battery and a detachable power cord in accordance with atleast one embodiment

FIG. 43 is a schematic representation of a power adapter in accordancewith at least one embodiment;

FIG. 44 is a schematic representation of a power adapter in accordancewith at least one embodiment;

FIG. 45 is a perspective view of a handle of a surgical instrumentsystem including a battery;

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of a second battery attached to the handleof FIG. 45; and

FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view of the handle and the battery of FIG.45 and the second battery of FIG. 46.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate various embodiments of the invention, in one form, and suchexemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Feb. 27, 2015, and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,562, entitled SURGICAL APPARATUSCONFIGURED TO TRACK AN END-OF-LIFE PARAMETER;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,576, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INSPECTION STATION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,546, entitled SURGICAL APPARATUSCONFIGURED TO ASSESS WHETHER A PERFORMANCE PARAMETER OF THE SURGICALAPPARATUS IS WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE BAND;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,560, entitled SURGICAL CHARGINGSYSTEM THAT CHARGES AND/OR CONDITIONS ONE OR MORE BATTERIES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,566, entitled CHARGING SYSTEMTHAT ENABLES EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS FOR CHARGING A BATTERY;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,542, entitled REINFORCED BATTERYFOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,548, entitled POWER ADAPTER FORA SURGICAL INSTRUMENT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,526, entitled ADAPTABLE SURGICALINSTRUMENT HANDLE;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,541, entitled MODULAR STAPLINGASSEMBLY;

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Dec. 18, 2014 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/574,478, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING AN ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTOR AND MEANSFOR ADJUSTING THE FIRING STROKE OF A FIRING;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/574,483, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING LOCKABLE SYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,139, entitled DRIVE ARRANGEMENTSFOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,148, entitled LOCKINGARRANGEMENTS FOR DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES WITH ARTICULATABLE SURGICALEND EFFECTORS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,130, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT WITH AN ANVIL THAT IS SELECTIVELY MOVABLE ABOUT A DISCRETENON-MOVABLE AXIS RELATIVE TO A STAPLE CARTRIDGE;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,143, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH IMPROVED CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,117, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND MOVABLE FIRING BEAMSUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,154, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND IMPROVED FIRING BEAMSUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/574,493, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM; and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/574,500, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKABLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM.

Applicant of the present application owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Mar. 1, 2013 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,295, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTIVE PATHWAYS FOR SIGNAL COMMUNICATION,now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246471;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,323, entitled ROTARY POWEREDARTICULATION JOINTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0246472;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,338, entitled THUMBWHEEL SWITCHARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0249557;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,499, entitled ELECTROMECHANICALSURGICAL DEVICE WITH SIGNAL RELAY ARRANGEMENT, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0246474;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,460, entitled MULTIPLE PROCESSORMOTOR CONTROL FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0246478;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,358, entitled JOYSTICK SWITCHASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0246477;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,481, entitled SENSORSTRAIGHTENED END EFFECTOR DURING REMOVAL THROUGH TROCAR, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0246479;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,518, entitled CONTROL METHODSFOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE IMPLEMENT PORTIONS, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246475;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,375, entitled ROTARY POWEREDSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE DEGREES OF FREEDOM, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0246473; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/782,536, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT SOFT STOP, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0246476.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Mar. 14, 2013 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,097, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263542;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,193, entitled CONTROLARRANGEMENTS FOR A DRIVE MEMBER OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263537;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,053, entitled INTERCHANGEABLESHAFT ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263564;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,086, entitled ARTICULATABLESURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263541;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,210, entitled SENSORARRANGEMENTS FOR ABSOLUTE POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS,now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263538;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,148, entitled MULTI-FUNCTIONMOTOR FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2014/0263554;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,066, entitled DRIVE SYSTEMLOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263565;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,117, entitled ARTICULATIONCONTROL SYSTEM FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263553;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,130, entitled DRIVE TRAINCONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0263543; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/803,159, entitled METHOD AND SYSTEMFOR OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0277017.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplication that was filed on Mar. 7, 2014 and is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/200,111, entitled CONTROL SYSTEMSFOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0263539.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Mar. 26, 2014 and are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,106, entitled POWER MANAGEMENTCONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,099, entitled STERILIZATIONVERIFICATION CIRCUIT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,094, entitled VERIFICATION OFNUMBER OF BATTERY EXCHANGES/PROCEDURE COUNT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,117, entitled POWER MANAGEMENTTHROUGH SLEEP OPTIONS OF SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND WAKE UP CONTROL;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,075, entitled MODULAR POWEREDSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,093, entitled FEEDBACKALGORITHMS FOR MANUAL BAILOUT SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,116, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT UTILIZING SENSOR ADAPTATION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,071, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT CONTROL CIRCUIT HAVING A SAFETY PROCESSOR;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,097, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,126, entitled INTERFACE SYSTEMSFOR USE WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,133, entitled MODULAR SURGICALINSTRUMENT SYSTEM;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,081, entitled SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS FOR CONTROLLING A SEGMENTED CIRCUIT;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,076, entitled POWER MANAGEMENTTHROUGH SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND VARIABLE VOLTAGE PROTECTION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,111, entitled SURGICAL STAPLINGINSTRUMENT SYSTEM; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/226,125, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Sep. 5, 2014 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,103, entitled CIRCUITRY ANDSENSORS FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,119, entitled ADJUNCT WITHINTEGRATED SENSORS TO QUANTIFY TISSUE COMPRESSION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/478,908, entitled MONITORING DEVICEDEGRADATION BASED ON COMPONENT EVALUATION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/478,895, entitled MULTIPLE SENSORSWITH ONE SENSOR AFFECTING A SECOND SENSOR'S OUTPUT OR INTERPRETATION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,110, entitled USE OF POLARITY OFHALL MAGNET DETECTION TO DETECT MISLOADED CARTRIDGE;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,098, entitled SMART CARTRIDGEWAKE UP OPERATION AND DATA RETENTION;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,115, entitled MULTIPLE MOTORCONTROL FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,108, entitled LOCAL DISPLAY OFTISSUE PARAMETER STABILIZATION.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Apr. 9, 2014 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,590, entitled MOTOR DRIVENSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKABLE DUAL DRIVE SHAFTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0305987;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,581, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CLOSING DRIVE AND A FIRING DRIVE OPERATED FROMTHE SAME ROTATABLE OUTPUT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0305989;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,595, entitled SURGICALINSTRUMENT SHAFT INCLUDING SWITCHES FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THESURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0305988;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,588, entitled POWERED LINEARSURGICAL STAPLER, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2014/0309666;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,591, entitled TRANSMISSIONARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0305991;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,584, entitled MODULAR MOTORDRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURES FOR ALIGNING ROTARYDRIVE SHAFTS WITH SURGICAL END EFFECTOR SHAFTS, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0305994;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,587, entitled POWERED SURGICALSTAPLER, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0309665;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,586, entitled DRIVE SYSTEMDECOUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0305990; and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/248,607, entitled MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTSWITH STATUS INDICATION ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0305992.

Applicant of the present application also owns the following patentapplications that were filed on Apr. 16, 2013 and which are each hereinincorporated by reference in their respective entireties:

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,365, entitledSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR;

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,376, entitled LINEARCUTTER WITH POWER;

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,382, entitled LINEARCUTTER WITH MOTOR AND PISTOL GRIP;

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,385, entitledSURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE WITH MULTIPLE ACTUATION MOTORS AND MOTORCONTROL; and

U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/812,372, entitledSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR.

Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and useof the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. Well-known operations, components, andelements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure theembodiments described in the specification. The reader will understandthat the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limitingexamples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structuraland functional details disclosed herein may be representative andillustrative. Variations and changes thereto may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims.

The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and“comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and“having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and“including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains”and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a surgicalsystem, device, or apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or“contains” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements,but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements.Likewise, an element of a system, device, or apparatus that “comprises,”“has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features possesses those oneor more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one ormore features.

The terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein with reference to aclinician manipulating the handle portion of the surgical instrument.The term “proximal” referring to the portion closest to the clinicianand the term “distal” referring to the portion located away from theclinician. It will be further appreciated that, for convenience andclarity, spatial terms such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, and“down” may be used herein with respect to the drawings. However,surgical instruments are used in many orientations and positions, andthese terms are not intended to be limiting and/or absolute.

Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for performinglaparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. However, thereader will readily appreciate that the various methods and devicesdisclosed herein can be used in numerous surgical procedures andapplications including, for example, in connection with open surgicalprocedures. As the present Detailed Description proceeds, the readerwill further appreciate that the various instruments disclosed hereincan be inserted into a body in any way, such as through a naturalorifice, through an incision or puncture hole formed in tissue, etc. Theworking portions or end effector portions of the instruments can beinserted directly into a patient's body or can be inserted through anaccess device that has a working channel through which the end effectorand elongated shaft of a surgical instrument can be advanced.

A surgical stapling system can comprise a shaft and an end effectorextending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw and asecond jaw. The first jaw comprises a staple cartridge. The staplecartridge is insertable into and removable from the first jaw; however,other embodiments are envisioned in which a staple cartridge is notremovable from, or at least readily replaceable from, the first jaw. Thesecond jaw comprises an anvil configured to deform staples ejected fromthe staple cartridge. The second jaw is pivotable relative to the firstjaw about a closure axis; however, other embodiments are envisioned inwhich first jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw. The surgicalstapling system further comprises an articulation joint configured topermit the end effector to be rotated, or articulated, relative to theshaft. The end effector is rotatable about an articulation axisextending through the articulation joint. Other embodiments areenvisioned which do not include an articulation joint.

The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body. The cartridge bodyincludes a proximal end, a distal end, and a deck extending between theproximal end and the distal end. In use, the staple cartridge ispositioned on a first side of the tissue to be stapled and the anvil ispositioned on a second side of the tissue. The anvil is moved toward thestaple cartridge to compress and clamp the tissue against the deck.Thereafter, staples removably stored in the cartridge body can bedeployed into the tissue. The cartridge body includes staple cavitiesdefined therein wherein staples are removably stored in the staplecavities. The staple cavities are arranged in six longitudinal rows.Three rows of staple cavities are positioned on a first side of alongitudinal slot and three rows of staple cavities are positioned on asecond side of the longitudinal slot. Other arrangements of staplecavities and staples may be possible.

The staples are supported by staple drivers in the cartridge body. Thedrivers are movable between a first, or unfired position, and a second,or fired, position to eject the staples from the staple cavities. Thedrivers are retained in the cartridge body by a retainer which extendsaround the bottom of the cartridge body and includes resilient membersconfigured to grip the cartridge body and hold the retainer to thecartridge body. The drivers are movable between their unfired positionsand their fired positions by a sled. The sled is movable between aproximal position adjacent the proximal end and a distal positionadjacent the distal end. The sled comprises a plurality of rampedsurfaces configured to slide under the drivers and lift the drivers, andthe staples supported thereon, toward the anvil.

Further to the above, the sled is moved distally by a firing member. Thefiring member is configured to contact the sled and push the sled towardthe distal end. The longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body isconfigured to receive the firing member. The anvil also includes a slotconfigured to receive the firing member. The firing member furthercomprises a first cam which engages the first jaw and a second cam whichengages the second jaw. As the firing member is advanced distally, thefirst cam and the second cam can control the distance, or tissue gap,between the deck of the staple cartridge and the anvil. The firingmember also comprises a knife configured to incise the tissue capturedintermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil. It is desirable for theknife to be positioned at least partially proximal to the rampedsurfaces such that the staples are ejected ahead of the knife.

An end effector can be configured to articulate relative to the handleand/or shaft of a surgical instrument. For example, the end effector canbe pivotably and/or rotatably coupled to the shaft of the surgicalinstrument such that the end effector is configured to pivot relative tothe shaft and the handle. In various instances, the end effector can beconfigured to articulate at an articulation joint located intermediatethe end effector and the shaft. In other instances, the shaft caninclude a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an articulation joint,which can be located intermediate the proximal portion and the distalportion of the shaft, for example.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate aspects of a modular surgical cutting and fasteninginstrument that, in one form, includes a motor-driven, reusable handlemodule 10 that may be used, and reused, in connection with one or avariety of different detachable (and typically reusable) shaft modules(DSM)s. As described in more detail below, the handle module 10 mayinclude a housing 12 with one or more motor-driven rotary drive systemsthat generate and apply various control motions to corresponding driveshaft portions of a particular DSM coupled thereto. Two such rotarydrive systems 20, 40 are shown in the handle module 10 of FIGS. 1 and 5.The first rotary drive system 20 may be employed, for example, to apply“closure” motions to a corresponding closure drive shaft assembly thatis operably supported in the DSM and the second rotary drive system 40may be employed, for example, to apply “firing” motions to acorresponding firing drive shaft assembly in the DSM that is coupledthereto. The various DSMs may be releasably and interchangeablyconnected to the housing 12. Three exemplary DSMs that could beconnected to the handle module 10 in various arrangements are depictedin FIG. 1. The depicted exemplary DSMs include an open linear staplerDSM 1, a curved cutter stapler DSM 2, and a circular surgical staplerDSM 3. Other DSM types that are adapted for the drive systems 20, 40 ofthe handle module 10 could also be used, including an endocutter DSM,which is described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/633,541, entitled MODULAR STAPLING ASSEMBLY, which was filed on Feb.27, 2015, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. More detailsabout an exemplary dual-drive surgical cutting and fastening instrumentare provided in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/248,590, entitledMOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKABLE DUAL DRIVE SHAFTS, filedApr. 9, 2014, hereinafter “the '590 application,” which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the housing 12 comprises a handle 14 that isconfigured to be grasped, manipulated and actuated by a clinician. Thehandle 14 may comprise a pair of handle housing segments 16 and 18 thatmay be interconnected by screws, snap features, adhesive, etc. In theillustrated arrangement, the handle housing segments 16, 18 cooperate toform a pistol grip portion 19 that can be gripped and manipulated by theclinician. The handle 14 operably supports the two rotary drive systems20, 40.

The first and second rotary drive systems 20, 40 may be powered by amotor 80 through a “shiftable” transmission assembly 60 that essentiallyshifts power/motion between two power trains. The first rotary drivesystem 20 includes a first rotary drive shaft 22 that is rotatablysupported in the housing 12 of the handle 14 and defines a first driveshaft axis “FDA-FDA.” A first drive gear 24 is keyed onto or otherwisenon-rotatably affixed to the first rotary drive shaft 22 for rotationtherewith about the first drive shaft axis FDA-FDA. Similarly, thesecond rotary drive system 40 includes a second rotary drive shaft 42that is rotatably supported in the housing 12 of the handle 14 anddefines a second drive shaft axis “SDA-SDA.” In at least onearrangement, the second drive shaft axis SDA-SDA is offset from andparallel or substantially parallel to the first drive shaft axisFDA-FDA. As used in this context, the term “offset” means that the firstand second drive shaft axes are not coaxial. The second rotary driveshaft 42 has a second drive gear 44 keyed onto or otherwisenon-rotatably affixed to the second drive shaft 42 for rotationtherewith about the second drive shaft axis SDA-SDA. In addition, thesecond drive shaft 42 has an intermediate drive gear 46 rotatablyjournaled thereon such that the intermediate drive gear 46 is freelyrotatable on the second rotary drive shaft 42 about the second driveshaft axis SDA-SDA.

In one form, the motor 80 includes a motor output shaft that has a motordrive gear 82 attached thereto. The motor drive gear 82 is configuredfor intermeshing “operable” engagement with the transmission assembly60. In at least one form, the transmission assembly 60 includes atransmission carriage 62 that is supported for axial travel between thedrive gear 82 and gears 44 and 46 on the second rotary drive shaft 42.For example, the transmission carriage 62 may be slidably journaled on asupport shaft 63 that is mounted within the housing 12 on a shaft mount61 such that the line of action of the transmission carriage isperpendicular to the gear trains of the rotary drive systems. The shaftmount 61 is configured to be rigidly supported within slots or otherfeatures within the handle module 10. The transmission carriage 62includes a carriage gear 64 that is rotatably supported on the supportshaft 63 and is configured for selective meshing engagement with gears44 and 46 while in driving engagement with drive gear 82. In thearrangement depicted in FIGS. 1-5, the transmission carriage 62 isattached operably to a shifter or a “means for shifting” 70 that isconfigured to shift axially the transmission carriage 62 between a“first drive position” and a “second drive position.” In one form, forexample, the means for shifting 70 includes a shifter solenoid 71 thatis supported within the housing 12 of the handle 14. The shiftersolenoid 71 may comprise a bi-stable solenoid or, for example, maycomprise a dual position, spring loaded solenoid. The illustratedarrangement includes a spring 72 that biases the transmission carriage62 in the distal direction “DD” to the first drive position wherein thecarriage gear 64 is in meshing engagement with the intermediate drivegear 46 while also in meshing engagement with the drive gear 82. When inthat first drive position, activation of the motor 80 will result inrotation of gears 82, 46 and 24, which will ultimately result inrotation of the first drive shaft 22.

The shifter solenoid 71 may be actuated by a firing trigger 90 that ispivotally supported on the housing 12 of handle 14 as shown in FIGS.1-5. In the illustrated embodiment, the firing trigger 90 is pivotallysupported on a firing trigger shaft 92 mounted in the handle 14. Thefiring trigger 90 is normally biased in an unactuated position by afiring trigger spring 94, as shown in FIG. 3. The firing trigger 90 ismounted for operable actuation of a firing switch 96 that is operablysupported on a control circuit board assembly 100 housed in the housing12 of the handle module 10. In the illustrated arrangement, actuation ofthe firing trigger 90 results in the actuation of the shifter solenoid71. Actuation of the firing trigger 90 results in the shifter solenoid71 pulling the transmission carriage 62 in the proximal direction “PD”to thereby move the carriage gear 64 into meshing engagement with thesecond drive gear 44. Actuation of motor 80 when the carriage gear 64 isin meshing engagement with the drive gear 82 and the second drive gear44 will result in the rotation of the second drive shaft 42 about thesecond drive shaft axis “SDA.” The shiftable transmission assembly 60may also include an indicator system 74 that includes a pair of switches75 and 76 that are operably coupled to the control board 100 as well asa transmission indicator light 77. The switches 75, 76 serve to detectthe position of the transmission carriage 62, which results in thecontrol system actuating the indicator light 77 depending upon theposition of the transmission carriage 62. For example, the indicatorlight 77 may be energized when the transmission carriage 62 is in thefirst drive position. This provides the clinician with an indicationthat actuation of the motor 80 will result in the actuation of the firstdrive system 20.

The motor 80 may be a DC brushed driving motor having a maximum rotationof, approximately, 25,000 RPM, for example. In other arrangements, themotor may include a brushless motor, a cordless motor, a synchronousmotor, a stepper motor, or any other suitable electric motor, includingautoclavable motors. The motor 80 may be powered by a power source 84that in one form may comprise a power pack 86 that is removably storedin the pistol grip portion 19 of the handle 14. To access the power pack86, the clinician removes a removable cap 17 that is attached at thebottom of the pistol grip portion 19. The power pack 86 may operablysupport a plurality of battery cells (not shown) therein. The batterycells may each comprise, for example, a Lithium Ion (“LI”) or othersuitable battery type. The power pack 86 is configured for removableoperable attachment to the control circuit board assembly 100 of thehandle module 10, which is also operably coupled to the motor 80 andmounted within the handle 14. The power pack 86 may comprise a number ofbattery cells connected in series that may serve as the power source forthe surgical instrument. In addition, the power source 84 may bereplaceable and/or rechargeable and, in at least one instance, caninclude CR123 batteries, for example.

The motor 80 may be actuated by a “rocker-trigger” 110 that is pivotallymounted to the pistol grip portion 19 of the handle 14. The rockertrigger 110 is configured to actuate a first motor switch 112 that isoperably coupled to the control board 100. The first motor switch 112may comprise a pressure switch that is actuated by pivoting the rockertrigger 110 into contact therewith. Actuation of the first motor switch112 will result in actuation of the motor 80 such that the drive gear 82rotates in a first rotary direction. A second motor switch 114 is alsoattached to the circuit board 100 and mounted for selective contact bythe rocker trigger 110. Actuation of the second motor switch 114 willresult in actuation of the motor 80 such that the drive gear 82 isrotated in a second direction. For example, in use, a voltage polarityprovided by the power source 84 can operate the electric motor 80 in aclockwise direction wherein the voltage polarity applied to the electricmotor by the battery can be reversed in order to operate the electricmotor 80 in a counter-clockwise direction. The handle 14 can alsoinclude a sensor that is configured to detect the directions in whichthe drive systems are being moved.

The housing 12 may also comprise a surgical instrument contact board 30mounted thereto. Correspondingly, the various DSMs (e.g., DSMs 1, 2, 3)may include a mating DSM contact board (see FIGS. 34-60 of the '590application). The DSM contact board may be positioned in the DSM suchthat when the DSM is operably coupled to the handle module 10, the endeffector contact board is electrically coupled to a handle modulecontact board 30 mounted in the handle module 10. In such a manner, dataand/or electric power can be transferred between the handle module 10and the DSM via the mating contact boards.

FIG. 6 illustrates one form of mechanical coupling system 50 that may beemployed to facilitate the simultaneous removable and operable couplingof the two drive systems 20, 40 in the handle module 10 to thecorresponding “driven” shafts in the DSMs. The coupling system 50 maycomprise male couplers that may be attached to the drive shafts in thehandle module 10 and corresponding female socket couplers that areattached to the driven shafts in the surgical DSM. Each of the malecouplers 51 are configured to be drivingly received within correspondingfemale socket couplers 57 that may also be attached to the driven shaftswithin the DSM.

Arrangements for driving the drive systems 20, 40 are disclosed in the'590 application, including that the handle module 10 may includemultiple motors.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a modular motor driven surgical instrument2100 comprising a handle module 2102 and a DSM 2104. The handle and DSMs2102, 2104 comprise respective electrical subsystems 2106, 2108electrically coupled by a communications and power interface 2110. Thecomponents of the electrical subsystem 2106 of the handle portion 2102are supported by, and can be connected to, the previously describedcontrol board 100. The communications and power interface 2110 isconfigured such that electrical signals and/or power can be readilyexchanged between the handle portion 2102 and the shaft portion 2104.

In the illustrated example, the electrical subsystem 2106 of the handlemodule 2102 is coupled electrically to various electrical elements 2112and a display 2114. In one instance, the display 2114 is an organiclight emitting diode (OLED) display, although the display 2114 shouldnot be limited in this context, and other display technologies could beused. The electrical subsystem 2108 of the DSM 2104 is electricallycoupled to various electrical elements 2116 of the DSM 2104.

In one aspect, the electrical subsystem 2106 of the handle module 2102comprises a solenoid driver 2118, an accelerometer system 2120, a motorcontroller/driver 2122, a handle processor 2124, a voltage regulator2126, and is configured to receive inputs from a plurality of sensorswitches 2128 that may be located either in the DSM and/or the handle.The handle processor 2124 may be a general-purpose microcontrollersuitable for medical and surgical instrument applications. In oneinstance, the handle processor 2124 may be a TM4C123BH6ZRBmicrocontroller from Texas Instruments that comprises a 32-bit ARM®Cortex™-M4 80-MHz processor and on-chip memory, such as 256 KB Flash, 32KB SRAM, internal ROM for C Series software, and 2 KB EEPROM. Theelectrical subsystem 2106 could also comprise one or more separate,external memory chips/circuits (not shown) connected to the handleprocessor 2124 via a data bus. As used herein, a “processor” or“processor circuit,” such as the handle processor 2124, may beimplemented as a microcontroller, microprocessor, a field programmablegate array (FPGA), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),that executes program code, such as firmware and/or software, stored inassociated memory to perform the various functions programmed by theprogram code.

In one aspect, the electrical subsystem 2106 of the handle module 2102receives signals from the various electrical components 2112, includinga solenoid 2132, a clamp position switch 2134, a fire position switch2136, a motor 2138, a battery pack 2140, an OLED interface board 2142(which drives the display 2114), and various switches, such as an openswitch 2144 (which indicates whether the closure trigger is open), aclose switch 2146 (which indicates whether the closure trigger isclosed), and a fire switch 2148 (which indicated whether the fire switchis activated or not). The motor 2138 may represent motor 80 in FIGS.2-5.

In one aspect, the electrical subsystem 2108 of the DSM 2104 comprises ashaft processor 2130. The electrical subsystem 2108 of the DSM isconfigured to receive signals from various switches and sensors 2116located in the DSM that are indicative of the status of the clamp jawsand cutting element in the DSM. In particular, the electrical subsystem2108 of the DSM may receive signals from a clamp opened status switch2150 (which indicates whether the end effector clamp is open), a clampclosed status switch 2152 (which indicates whether the end effectorclamp is closed), a fire begin status switch 2154 (which indicateswhether the end effector commenced firing), and a fire end status switch2156 (which indicates whether the end effector ended firing), so thatthe various switches indicate the states of the clamp and cuttingelement.

The accelerometer system 2120 may include a MEMS motion sensor thatsenses 3-axis motion of the handle module 10, such as a LIS331DLMaccelerometer from STMicroelectronics. The motor controller/driver 2122may comprise a three phase brushless DC (BLDC) controller and MOSFETdriver, such as the A3930 motor controller/driver provided by Allegro,for example. In one aspect, the modular motor driven surgical instrument2100 is equipped with a brushless DC electric motor 2138 (BLDC motor, BLmotor), also known as an electronically commutated motor (ECM, ECmotor). One such motor is the BLDC Motor B0610H4314 provided byPortescap. The sensor switches 2128 may include one or more unipolarintegrated circuit type Hall Effect sensors. The voltage regulator 2126regulates the power supplied to the various electrical components of thehandle module 2102 and DSM 2104 from a power source (e.g., battery2140). The battery 2140, which can represent battery pack 86 in FIGS.1-5, may be, for example, a lithium-ion polymer (LiPo) battery, polymerlithium ion, and/or lithium polymer batteries, for example, which(abbreviated Li-poly, Li-Pol, LiPo, LIP, PLi or LiP) are rechargeable(secondary cell) batteries. The LIPO battery 2140 may comprise several(e.g., four or six) identical secondary cells in parallel (a “pack”).The OLED interface 2142 is an interface to the OLED display 2114, whichcomprises organic light-emitting diodes.

In one aspect, the DSM processor 2130 of the electrical subsystem 2108of the DSM 2104 may be implemented as an ultra-low power 16-bit mixedsignal MCU, such as the MSP430FR5738 Ultra-low Power MCU from TexasInstruments. It may comprise, among other things, internal RAMnonvolatile memory, a CPU, an A/D converter, a 16-channel comparator,and three enhanced serial channels capable of I2C, SPI, or UARTprotocols. The subsystem 2108 could also comprise one or more separate,external memory chips/circuits connected to the DSM processor 2130 via adata bus.

More details about exemplary electrical subsystem for the handle andDSMs 2102, 2104 may be found in the '590 application. In operation, theelectrical subsystem 2106 of the handle module 2102 receives signalsfrom the open switch 2144, close switch 2146, and fire switch 2148supported on a housing of the handle module portion 2102 (e.g., housing12). When a signal is received from the close switch 2146 the handleprocessor 2124 operates the motor 2138 to initiate closing the clamparm. Once the clamp is closed, the clamp closed status switch 2152 inthe end effector sends a signal to the shaft processor 2130, whichcommunicates the status of the clamp arm to the handle processor 2124through the communications and power interface 2110.

Once the target tissue has been clamped, the fire switch 2148 may beactuated to generate a signal, which is received by the handle processor2124. In response, the handle processor 2124 actuates the transmissioncarriage to its second drive position such that actuation of the motor2138 will result in the rotation of a second drive shaft. Once thecutting member is positioned, the fire begin status switch 2154 locatedin the end effector sends a signal indicative of the position of thecutting member to the DSM processor 2130, which communicates theposition back to the handle processor 2124 through the communicationsand power interface 2110.

Actuating the first switch 2148 once again sends a signal to the handleprocessor 2138, which in response actuates the second drive system andthe firing system in the DSM to drive the tissue cutting member andwedge sled assembly distally through the surgical staple cartridge. Oncethe tissue cutting member and wedge sled assembly have been driven totheir distal-most positions in the surgical staple cartridge, the fireend switch 2156 sends a signal to the DSM processor 2130 whichcommunicates the position back to the handle processor 2124 through theinterface 2110. Now the fire switch 2148 may be activated to send asignal to the handle processor 2124, which operates the motor 2138 inreverse rotation to return the firing system to its starting position.

Actuating the open switch 2144 once again sends a signal to the handleprocessor 2124, which operates the motor 2138 to open the clamp. Onceopen, the clamp opened status switch 2150 located in the end effectorsends a signal to the shaft processor 2130, which communicates theposition of the clamp to the handle processor 2124. The clamp positionswitch 2134 and the fire position switch 2136 provide signals to thehandle processor 2124 that indicate the respective positions of theclamp arm and the cutting member.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a process flow that may be executed by the handleprocessor 2124 in various instances by executing software and/orfirmware instructions for the handle processor 2124 stored in theinternal memory of the processor and/or in an external memorychip/circuit connected to the handle processor 2124. At step 202, thehandle processor 2124 monitors input signals from sensors of theinstrument 2100 for so-called “life events.” The life events are eventsor actions involving the handle module 2102 and/or the DSM 2104 whereinthe handle module 2102 should be retired (i.e., no longer used) once thethreshold number of life events is reached. The life events could be theclamping of the end effector, the firing of the end effector,combinations of these events, and/or other events or actions involvingthe handle module 2102 and/or DSM 2104 that can be and are sensed by theinstrument 2100. For example, the open switch 2144, the close switch2146, and the fire switch 2148 of the handle module 2102 may be coupledto the handle processor 2124. In addition to or in lieu of the above,the clamp opened status switch 2150, the clamp closed status switch2152, the fire begin status switch 2154, and the fire end status switch2156 in the DSM 2104 may be coupled to the handle processor 2124 (viathe interface 2110). A life event may occur and may be counted when someor all these respective switches are activated, and/or activated in aparticular sequence detected by the handle processor 2124, depending onthe design and application of the handle module 2102 and instrument2100. For example, in various implementations, each detected clampclosure and each detected firing may count as a life event. Statedanother way, a detected clamp closure can comprise a first life eventand a detected firing can comprise a second, or different, life event.In other implementations, a sequence of a clamp closure followed byfiring may count as one life event. Also, as described above, the handleprocessor 2124 can use inputs from the handle sensors 2144, 2146, 2148and/or the DSM sensors 2150, 2152, 2154, 2156, for example, to detectlife events.

The handle processor 2124 keeps a count of the life events. When a lifeevent is detected, the handle processor 2124 increments the presentvalue of the life event counter in either its internal or externalmemory at step 204. The counter may be a count-up counter, where thecount is increased by one count (increment by +1) when a life eventoccurs until a pre-established threshold is met; or the counter may be acount-down counter, where the count is decreased by one count(incremented by −1) when a life event occurs until a specific end count(e.g., zero) is reached after starting at value that is different fromthe end count by the pre-established threshold. The pre-established lifeevent count threshold could be set at any value desired by themanufacturer of the handle module 2102 in view of the particular sensorevents that count as life events.

If the life event counter reaches the pre-established life eventthreshold at step 206, the handle processor 2124 may initiate one ormore end-of-life actions at step 208, such as causing the display 2114of the handle module 2102 or some other display (e.g., a mechanicalcounter visible to the user), for example, in communication with thehandle processor 2124 to indicate that the handle module 2102 is spent(at end-of-life) and should be retired. Any suitable visual, tactile,and/or audible indication may be used. For example, the display 2114 mayinclude an icon and/or text indicating that the end-of-life for thehandle module has been reached. The display 2114 could also indicate thelife event count on an on-going basis, such as by a numerical display orvolume indicator (full, close to empty, etc.), for example, so that theuser can monitor whether the handle module is nearing the end of itslife cycle. In addition or in lieu of a constant display of the lifeevent count, the display 2114 may have an icon and/or use text to showthat the handle module is nearing the end of its life (e.g., “N usesleft”). The handle processor 2124 may also initiate conditions thatprevent further use of the handle module 2102 when the end-of-life countis reached, as described further below. If the end-of-life count has notbeen reached, the handle processor 2124 continues to monitor theswitches and sensors for life count events until the end-of-lifethreshold is reached.

Various implementations of sensors could be used to detect certain lifeevents. For example, the DSM that is used (e.g., DSM 1, 2 or 3) mayinclude two drive shafts—one for driving the closure system and one fordriving the firing system (each driven by one of the drive systems 20,40 respectively), for example. Each such drive shaft may drive acarriage forward during a clamping or firing event, respectively. Assuch, the closure and/or firing systems may include switches that aretriggered when the closure or firing carriage, as the case may be,contacts them. The switch(es) may be coupled to the handle processor2124, and the handle processor 2124 may register a life event count whenit receives a signal from the switch(es) that it has been triggered. Theswitches may be automatically-resettable push button switches that reseteach time they are contacted—and triggered—by the carriage driven by thedrive shaft.

Further to the above, the '590 application describes that the DSMs 1-3may include a pair of lead screws for driving the closure and firingsystems of various different types of DSMs. Examples of such lead screwpairs are shown in the '590 application at FIGS. 34-37 thereof for anopen linear stapler, FIGS. 38-41 thereof for a curved cutter stapler,and FIGS. 42-45 thereof for a circular surgical stapler. Other DSM typesthat are adapted for the handle module could also be used, such asendocutters and/or right-angle staplers, for example. Since differentDSMs could be used with the handle module, the handle module (e.g., thehandle processor 2124) could use more sophisticated algorithms fortracking handle module usage and remaining life that depend on thenumber of times the various types of DSMs are used and fired. Forexample, in one instantiation, the handle processor 2124 could compute aprogressively accumulating life event score that weighs the use bydifferent DSMs differently (depending on how stressful they are on thehandle module, for example) and compares the score to a predeterminedthreshold value. When the handle module's score reaches the thresholdvalue, the handle module is retired (e.g., one or more end-of-lifeactions are taken). For example, the handle processor 2124 may computethe life event score based on the following relationship:Life Event Score=Σ_(i=1) ^(N) W _(i)Σ_(j=1) ^(S) F _(i,j)where i=1, . . . N represents the different DSM types that could be usedwith the handle module (e.g., endocutter, liner open, circular, curved,right-angle stapler, etc.), W is a weighting factor for DSM type i, andF is the number of firings for DSM type i over the j=1, . . . Sprocedures involving DSM type i. DSM types that impart less stress ingeneral on the handle module could have a lower weight W than then DSMtypes that impart greater stress in general on the handle module. Thatway, in various arrangements, a handle module that is used only for highstress procedures would expire prior to a handle module that is usedonly for less stressful procedures, all other things being equal.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary process flow that the handle processor2124 may execute to compute a life event score and/or compare the lifeevent score to a threshold score. In such instances, the handleprocessor 2124 can execute firmware and/or software stored in internaland/or external memory, for example. Assuming that the threshold scoreof the handle module has not yet been reached, the process starts atblock 250 where the handle processor 2124 receives inputs for theupcoming procedure. At least one such input can include anidentification of the type of DSM that is attached to the handle module,which the handle processor can receive from the DSM processor 2130 whenthe DSM is connected to the handle module and/or when the handleprocessor 2124 and the DSM processor 2130 establish a data connectiontherebetween. In the process of recognizing and/or authenticating theDSM, the DSM processor 2130 sends an identifier to the handle processor2124 that identifies the type of DSM (e.g., endocutter, circular, etc.)that is attached to the handle module. Next at step 252, the handleprocessor 2124 tracks how many times the handle module is fired duringthe surgical procedure. The handle processor 2124 may track how manytimes the handle module has been fired by tracking the number of timesthe firing trigger has been activated and/or by tracking feedback fromthe DSM, such as indications that the end effector cartridge has beenreplaced, for example.

Following the procedure and/or at any other suitable time, referring nowto step 254, the handle processor 2124 may update the handle processor'slife event score by adding the score for the just-completed procedure tothe prior score. The score for the just-completed procedure may be basedon multiplying the weighting for the DSM type used in the procedure Wand the number of firings in the procedure S. The handle processor 2124may determine the weighting for the DSM type W by looking up theweighting in a look-up table (stored in internal and/or external memory)based on the type identifier received from the DSM at step 250. At step256, the handle processor compares the updated life event score for thehandle module to the pre-established threshold score to determine if thehandle module is at the end of its life. If the threshold has beenreached, the process advances to step 258 where one or more end-of-lifeactions for the handle module are taken such as, for example, one ormore of the end-of-life actions described herein. On the other hand, ifthe threshold has not yet been reached, the process can advance to step260 so that the handle module can be used in at least one moreprocedure, whereupon the process of FIG. 9 is repeated.

The loading conditions experienced by the instrument can be used totrack the usage of both the handle module and the DSM to assess whetherone or both of the handle module and the DSM should be retired. One suchinstantiation can involve comparing the force actually exerted by theinstrument to drive the firing member of the end effector to the forcethat the instrument was expected to experience, for example. Similarly,the force actually exerted to retract the firing member can be comparedto the force that the instrument was expected to experience in order toassess whether the handle module and/or the DSM should be retired. Thehandle module can be rated to a threshold number of firings based on theforce levels that the handle module is expected to experience.Similarly, the DSM can be rated to a threshold number of firings basedon the force levels that the DSM is expected to experience. The handlemodule threshold number and the DSM threshold number can be the same ordifferent. If the actual forces experienced by the handle module and/orthe DSM meaningfully exceed the expected force levels, the handleprocessor and/or the DSM processor, as the case may be, can determinethat the handle module and/or the DSM should be retired before reachingits expected number of firings.

In some instances, further to the above, the force exerted by a handlemodule and/or DSM may be constant throughout a firing stroke of thefiring member; however, it is quite common for the force exerted by thehandle module and/or DSM to change throughout the firing stroke. Ineither event, the force exerted by the handle module and/or the forceexpected to be exerted by the handle module can be a function of thefiring member position. Similarly, the force exerted by the DSM and/orthe force expected to be exerted by the DSM can be a function of thefiring member position. A particular type of DSM can have an expectedfiring force which is correlated to the firing stroke of the DSMthroughout the entire length thereof, i.e., the distance between theinitial starting position of the firing member and its end-of-strokeposition. The DSM can also have an expected retraction force which iscorrelated to the retraction stroke of the DSM throughout the entirelength thereof, i.e., the distance between the end-of-stroke position ofthe firing member and its starting position. FIG. 10A shows an exampleof expected forces for one type of DSM. The upper curve 270 shows theexpected firing forces as the firing member traverses the end effectorfrom its starting position to its end-of-stroke position, and the lowercurve 272 shows the expected retraction forces as the firing member isretracted back to its starting position. In this particular example, theexpected firing forces are greater than the expected retraction forces.

For each firing, further to the above, the handle module and/or DSMprocessors can track the force exerted per unit distance increment(e.g., 1 millimeter) of stroke length. Moreover, the handle moduleand/or DSM processors can track the force exerted for each distanceincrement of stroke length and then compare the actual forces to theexpected forces to see if the actual forces exerted exceeded theexpected forces or not. One way to measure the force exerted by theinstrument during firing and retraction is to measure the torque outputof the motor(s) during the firing and retraction strokes. In at leastone instance, the torque output of a motor can be determined based onthe current drawn by the motor and the motor speed. In at least one suchinstance, the voltage applied to the motor is constant. The current canbe measured with a current sensor; the motor speed can be measured withan encoder, for example. FIG. 10A shows exemplary force measurements asdepartures from the expected firing stroke forces and the expectedretraction stroke forces. In this diagram, for the sake of simplicity inthe illustration, all of the measured forces exceeded the expectedforce, and only the difference between the measured force and theexpected force is show by the line segments 274 for the firing strokeand the by the dotted line segments 276 for the retraction stroke. Thereader should appreciate that one or more measured forces could be lessthan their respective expected force.

FIG. 10B is a diagram of an exemplary process flow executed by thehandle module processor and/or the DSM processor by executing firmwareand/or software stored in the memory of the handle module and/or DSM, asthe case may be. Referring now to step 280, the processor can aggregate,i.e., accumulate, the difference between the measured force and theexpected force at each unit length increment (denoted AL below) alongthe firing stroke and/or the retraction stroke of the instrument. Forexample, the accumulated force difference for a firing stroke and asubsequent retraction stroke could be computed based on the followingrelationship:Accumulated Force Difference=Σ_(ΔL=0) ^(EOS)(F _(m,f,ΔL) −F_(e,f,ΔL))+Σ_(ΔL=EOS) ⁰(F _(m,r,ΔL) =F _(e,r,ΔL))where EOS represents end-of-stroke location; F_(m,f,ΔL) and F_(e,f,ΔL)represent the measured and expected firing forces, respectively, atposition AL; and F_(m,r,ΔL) and F_(e,r,ΔL) represent the measured andexpected retraction forces respectively at position AL. At step 282, theprocessor can then accumulate the force differences by summing theaccumulated force differences per firing for each of the firings thatthe handle module and/or DSM has experienced.

With regard to one particular embodiment, further to the above, theprocessor can calculate the accumulated force differences in real-time.In at least one instance, the processor can calculate the forcedifferences after each firing and retraction cycle. In certaininstances, the processor can calculate the force differences after eachsurgical procedure, which may include more than one firing andretraction cycle. For example, if there were seven (7) firings in aparticular procedure, then the processor would sum the result from step280 for each of the seven firings. Next, at step 284, the handle canupdate the total accumulated force differences for the handle moduleand/or the DSM, as the case may be, by adding the accumulated forcedifferences for the recently-completed procedure to the total prior tothe recently-completed procedure (or zero in the case of the module'sfirst procedure). At step 286, the processor can then compare theupdated accumulated force difference total to a threshold. If thethreshold has been reached or otherwise satisfied, the process advancesto step 288 where an end-of-life action for the handle module or DSM, asthe case may be, is taken. Conversely, if at step 286 the processordetermines that the threshold has not yet been reached, the handlemodule and/or DSM, as the case may be, can be used once again.

Even if the accumulated force difference threshold has not yet beenreached, the handle module and/or the DSM, as the case may be, may havereached the end of its life according to a different threshold. Forinstance, the process of FIG. 10B can advance to step 289 after step 286where the processor compares the total number of procedures involvingthe handle module and/or the DSM, as the case may be, to a procedurecount threshold. In at least one example, a handle module can have aprocedure count threshold of 20 procedures and a DSM can have aprocedure count threshold of 10 procedures. Other examples are possible.In at least one other example, a handle module and a DSM can have thesame procedure count threshold. If the procedure count threshold hasbeen reached, the end-of-life action for the handle module and/or DSM,as the case may be, is initiated at step 288. Conversely, if theprocedure count threshold has not yet been reached, the process advancesto step 290 where the handle module and/or the DSM is prepared foranother procedure. Any of the techniques described herein for trackingprocedure counts may be used to detect the end of a procedure.

In various embodiments, the handle processor could perform thecalculations for both the handle module and the DSM and then communicatethe results for the DSM to the DSM processor so that the DSM processorcan initiate the end-of-life actions, if required. Similarly, the DSMprocessor could perform the calculations for both the handle module andthe DSM and then communicate the results for the handle module to thehandle processor so that the handle processor can initiate theend-of-life actions, if required. In another arrangement, all of themeasured forces for a procedure can be downloaded following a procedureto a remote processor, such as a processor in an inspection station oranother remote computer-or-processor-based system that is connected tothe handle module following a procedure for post-procedure processing,for example. Such an inspection station is disclosed and described inconnection with FIGS. 12A-B, for example.

FIG. 10C illustrates, in conjunction with FIGS. 10D and 10E, anotherexemplary process flow that the handle processor could employ to monitorwhether the handle module, for example, has reached its end of life. Theprocess illustrated in FIG. 10C determines whether the handle module hasreached its end of life based on the energy used by the handle moduleover its life, an exemplary graph of which is shown in FIG. 10D. FIG.10D depicts the aggregate, or accumulated, energy spent by a handlemodule as a function of the uses, or firings, of the handle module. Inaddition to or in lieu of the above, the process illustrated in FIG. 10Ccan determine whether the handle module has reached its end of lifebased on the power used during each firing of the handle module, anexemplary graph of which is shown in FIG. 10E. FIG. 10E depicts thepower consumed for each individual firing of the handle module. In atleast one particular embodiment, the processor, in implementing theexemplary process of FIG. 10C, monitors whether the energy expended bythe handle module, in the aggregate, exceeds various thresholds (seeFIG. 10D) and, concomitantly, whether the handle module has had acertain number of firings above a threshold power level (see FIG. 10E).When both of these conditions have been met, in at least one instance,the handle processor can conclude that the handle module is at its endof life. In certain instances, the handle processor could utilize anynumber of multiple-factor tests, with thresholds for each test, todetermine if a handle module is at its end of life. In at least oneinstance, the handle processor can determine that it has reached its endof life if any test threshold has been met or exceeded.

Following a procedure, the handle processor can execute the process ofFIG. 10C by executing firmware and/or software stored in internal and/orexternal memory to determine whether the handle module is at its end oflife. At step 290, the handle processor can compare the accumulatedenergy of the handle module over its life to a first threshold energylevel, i.e., Energy Level 1 in FIG. 10D. Energy Level 1 can be 40 kJ,for example. The handle module may include a micro watt or power meterconnected to the motor(s) of the handle module to measure and record theelectrical parameters of the motor(s) so that the energy and poweroutputs of the motor(s) can be determined. If the first threshold energylevel has been reached or exceeded, i.e., Energy Level 1, the handleprocessor can determine at step 291 that the handle module is at its endof life and initiate an end-of-life action, such as one or more of theend-of-life actions described herein, for example.

If the handle processor determines that first threshold energy level,i.e., Energy Level 1, has not been met at step 290, the process advancesto step 292 where the handle module determines if a second, (e.g.,lower) energy threshold has been met, i.e., Energy Level 2 in FIG. 10D.Energy Level 2 can be 30 kJ, for example. If the second threshold energylevel has been reached or exceeded (without reaching or exceeding thefirst threshold energy level), the process advances to step 293 wherethe handle processor determines if the handle module has undergone acertain number of firings over its life that have exceeded a first powerlevel threshold, e.g., two firings greater than 55 Watts (see FIG. 10E).If the second energy level threshold has been met or exceeded and thepower level threshold has been met or exceeded the predetermined numberof times, the handle processor can determine that the handle module isat its end of life. If, however, the power level threshold has not beenmet or exceeded the predetermined number of times, the handle processorcan determine that the handle module has not yet reached its end of lifeeven though the second energy level threshold has been met or exceeded.The dual factors of steps 292 and 293 can be another test on the handlemodule's life, and if the handle module fails both tests (i.e., boththresholds or conditions have been satisfied), the handle module can bedetermined to be at its end of life.

The handle processor can execute any number of such dual-factor tests.The example of FIG. 10C shows one additional such dual-factor test. Ifthe dual factors of steps 292 and 293 are not both satisfied, theprocess can advance to step 294 where the handle module determines if athird (e.g., still lower) energy threshold, i.e., Energy Level 3, hasbeen met. Energy Level 3 can be 25 kJ, for example. If the thirdthreshold energy level has been reached or exceeded (without reaching orexceeding the third threshold energy level), the process advances tostep 295 where the handle processor determines if the handle module hashad a certain number of firings over its life (preferably greater thanthe number of such firings checked for at step 293) that exceeded asecond power level threshold (which could be the same or different fromthe power level threshold at step 293), e.g., four firings greater than55 Watts. The dual factors of steps 294 and 295 can be another test onthe handle module's life, and if the handle module fails both tests(i.e., the thresholds or conditions have been satisfied), the handlemodule can be determined to be at its end of life. Otherwise, the handleprocessor can determine that the handle module is not at its end of lifeand can be used in a subsequent procedure.

It should be apparent that the steps of FIG. 10C can be performed invarious orders while still achieving the same result. For example, steps294 and 295 can be performed before step 290, and so on.

According to current best practices, a handle module should besterilized before it is used to perform a surgical procedure. In variousinstances, the handle module is placed in a sterilization tray which isthen placed in a sterilization chamber. In addition to or in lieu of theabove described manners for tracking the end of life of the handlemodule, the number of times that the handle module is placed in asterilization tray for sterilization could be used to track the end oflife for the handle module. Stated another way, the number of times thata handle module is sterilized can serve as a proxy for the number oftimes that the handle module has been used. In at least one exemplaryembodiment, each handle module has its own sterilization tray that keepsthe sterilization count for that particular handle module. In such anarrangement, the sterilization tray may include a counter that isincremented each time the associated handle module is placed in thetray. The counter can have visual readout display that can show thenumber of times the handle module has been sterilized if a count-upcounter is used or the number of sterilizations remaining, or permitted,when a count-down counter is used. That way the user can know when thesterilization limit is reached and, as a result, the user can retire thehandle module and/or take other appropriate end-of-life measures. Inorder for the placement of the handle module in a sterilization tray tobe used a proxy for the number of times the handle module is sterilizedand, thus, a proxy for the number of times the handle module has beenused, the handle module should be sterilized in one and only onesterilization tray. That way, the counter does not count placements inthe tray of other handle modules. Accordingly, the handle module andsterilization tray could be provided together, as a kit for example, andthey may include identifiers (e.g., numbers or icons) which show thatthey are to be used together. The handle module and DSM could besterilized separately or together, for example.

FIG. 11A depicts an exemplary sterilization tray 300 and a handle module302 which is positionable in the sterilization tray 300. Thesterilization tray 300 defines an opening, or recess, 304 whose shapematches the shape of handle module 302 to be placed therein. The recess304 is configured to closely receive the handle module 302 such thatthere is little, if any, relative movement possible therebetween. Thesterilization tray 300 includes a stroke counter 306 that has a leverarm 308 that extends into the opening 304. The stroke counter 306further includes a counter visual readout 310. When the user places thehandle module 302 in the opening 304, the lever arm end 308 isdepressed, toggled, or stroked, which registers as a count, therebyincrementing the stoke counter 306 by one for a count-up counter (or −1for a count-down counter) which is displayed on the readout 310. Toreduce false toggles or strokes of the lever arm 306, in variousarrangements, the lever arm end 308 may include a protrusion 312configured to fit into a corresponding opening 314 defined in the handlemodule 302. FIG. 11B shows the handle module 302 after it is placed inthe sterilization tray 300. The lever end arm 308 is not visible in FIG.11B because it is underneath the handle module 302. The counter readout310 remains visible to the user when the handle module 302 is positionedin the opening 304.

FIGS. 11C and 11D depict a variation where a handle module 302 can beplaced in sterilization tray 300 with a DSM 312. Handle module 302 issimilar to handle module 10 in many respects and DSM 312 represents anexemplary DSM. In such an arrangement, the sterilization tray 300includes a handle module opening 318 for receiving the handle module302, a handle module lever counter 314, and a handle module counterreadout 316. The tray 300 also includes a DSM opening 324 for receivingthe DSM 312, a DSM lever counter 320, and a DSM counter readout 322. Insuch an arrangement, the handle module 302 and the DSM 312 should onlybe sterilized in a particular sterilization tray 300 so that theirrespective sterilizations can be accurately tracked. The handle modulecounter 312 shows the number of times the handle module 302 has beensterilized in the sterilization tray 300, and/or the number ofsterilizations remaining. The DSM counter 324 shows the number of timesthe DSM 312 has been sterilized in the sterilization tray 300, and/orthe number of sterilizations remaining. The handle module 302 could besterilized without the DSM 312, and vice versa, in which case theirrespective counts may not be equal.

FIGS. 11E to 11I illustrate other arrangements for using a sterilizationtray 300 to track uses of a handle module. In FIG. 11E, thesterilization tray 300 includes a protrusion 340 extending upwardly fromthe bottom of the opening 304 in the sterilization tray. The protrusion340 is positioned to extend into a corresponding opening 342 defined inthe handle module 302 when the handle module 302 is seated in theopening 304. As shown in FIG. 11F, the handle module 302 may comprise atwo-position mechanical toggle switch 344 having a portion extendinginto the opening 342 defined by the handle 302 when the switch 344 is ina first position. When the handle module 302 is placed in thesterilization tray 300, the opening 342 is aligned with the protrusion340 such that the protrusion 340 pushes the switch 344 to a secondposition, as shown in FIG. 11G. The switch 344 may be in communicationwith the handle processor and the handle processor may update aninternal sterilization count (stored in internal and/or externalprocessor memory of the handle module) when the switch 344 is moved fromthe first position (FIG. 11F) to the second position (FIG. 11G). In suchan embodiment, the handle module 302 may comprise a power source asdescribed herein to power the handle processor and to update thesterilization count during sterilization. Such a power source cancomprise a secondary battery which is not removed from the handle moduleeven if a primary battery is removed from the handle module 302. Thehandle processor may compare the sterilization count to a predeterminedthreshold (e.g., 20 sterilizations) and when the sterilization countreaches the predetermined threshold, the handle processor may implementone or more of the various end-of-life actions described herein, forexample. The switch 344 may stay in the “triggered” or “activated” stateuntil it is reset at a later time, such as after the sterilizationprocess, for example (see FIG. 36). The switch 344 can be biased by aspring, for example, to revert back to its open position once the handlemodule 302 is removed from the tray 300 and the protrusion 340 isremoved from the opening 342. The handle module processor could also setan internal flag to indicate that the handle module 302 was placed inthe sterilization tray 300 and this flag can later be reset after thesterilization process (see FIG. 37). FIGS. 11H and 11I illustrate asimilar embodiment with a contact switch 348. When the handle module 302is placed in the sterilization tray 300, the opening 342 is aligned withthe protrusion 340 such that the protrusion 340 closes the contactswitch 348, as shown in FIG. 11G, when the handle module 302 is seatedin the opening 304. The contact switch 348 is in communication with thehandle processor to update the sterilization count of the handle module.The contact switch 348 may be biased to revert back to its open position(FIG. 11H) by a spring, for example, when the handle 302 is removed fromthe tray 300 and pressure being applied to the contact switch 348 by theinserted protrusion 340 is removed.

In addition to or in lieu of the above described manners for trackingthe end of life of a handle module, the end of the life of a handlemodule could be tracked through the use of an inspection station towhich the handle module can be connected. The inspection station couldbe used at any suitable time to evaluate whether the handle module canbe used to perform a surgical procedure and/or a subsequent step in asurgical procedure. For instance, an inspection station could be usedbefore, during, and/or after the sterilization process of a handlemodule and/or while preparing the handle module for reuse. The handlemodule could be connected to the inspection station after (i) thepost-op cleanup for reusable components of the handle module following aprocedure (usually involving a manual wipe down of the component orinstrument); (ii) decontamination (e.g., by auto-washer) of thecomponent or instrument; and/or (iii) cleaning and/or room drying of thecomponent or instrument, for example. Placement of the handle module onthe inspection station can be a proxy for the number of times the handlemodule was used, sterilized, and/or otherwise processed for reuse. Adisplay on the inspection station (or elsewhere) may indicate to a userwhen a threshold number of placements of the handle module on theinspection station has been reached or is about to be reached, at whichpoint the user can take appropriate action with respect to the handlemodule, such as retire it, for example. Also, the inspection stationcould upload data to the handle processor that prevents further usage ofthe handle module (e.g., disables the handle module) when the handlemodule has reached the end of its life.

Further to the above, FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate an exemplaryinspection station 400 and handle module 402. The handle module 402 issimilar to the handle module 10 in many respects. FIG. 12A shows thehandle module 402 before being placed on the inspection station 400 andFIG. 12B shows the handle module 402 after being placed into position onthe inspection station 400. Similar to other embodiments disclosedherein, the handle module 402 comprises a battery cavity 403 definedtherein which is configured to receive a battery pack therein. Seebattery pack 86 in FIGS. 2-5, for example. As also disclosed elsewhereherein, the battery pack is readily insertable into and removable fromthe battery cavity 403. FIG. 12A also shows that the battery pack isremoved from the handle module 402 thereby exposing the battery cavity403 prior to the handle module 402 being placed on the inspection system400. The inspection station 400 comprises an insert, or data/poweradapter, 404 extending therefrom that is sized and configured to fitwithin the battery cavity 403 of the handle module 402. The data/poweradapter 404 is placed in communication with the processor of the handlemodule via the power contacts configured to engage the power terminalsof the battery pack and/or via one or more signal contacts positioned inthe battery cavity 403, as described in greater detail further below.The handle module 402 may be positioned on the inspection station 400 bysliding the opening 403 over the data/power adapter 404.

FIG. 12C is a block diagram illustrating certain components of theinspection station 400 and the handle module 402. The data/power adapter404 includes power terminals 430 that provide voltage there-across to avoltage regulator 432 of the handle module 402 in the same or similarmanner in which the battery pack provides voltage to the voltageregulator 432 when the battery pack is positioned in the opening 403.For instance, if a battery pack is configured to supply 6V DC to thevoltage regulator 432, the insert 404 can be configured to supply 6V DCto the voltage regulator 432, for example. The voltage regulator 432provides electrical power to the control board 100 (see FIGS. 1-6) ofthe handle module 402 to power the components of the control board 100,including a handle processor 434 and the associated internal and/orexternal memory 436, for example. The inspection station 400 may itselfbe powered by an AC power source through a power cord 437 utilizingappropriate AC-DC converters. The inspection station 400 includes dataports 438 which come into contact with data ports 440 of the handlemodule 402 when the handle module 402 is engaged with the inspectionstation 400 so that the handle processor 434 can be in communicationwith the inspection station processor 442. As the reader willappreciate, the inspection station 400 can further include internaland/or external memory 444 associated with the inspection stationprocessor 442.

FIG. 12D is a diagram of a process flow that may be performed by thehandle processor 434 and/or the inspection station processor 442 whenexecuting software and/or firmware in the handle memory 436 and/or theinspection station memory 444 to track and respond to the number oftimes the handle module 402 is placed on the inspection station 400. Invarious arrangements, whenever the handle module 402 is installed on theinspection device 400 such that the insert 404 makes data and/or powerconnections to the control board 100 of the handle module 402, thehandle processor 434 may increment an inspection counter. The inspectioncounter may be a count-up counter from zero to a pre-establishedthreshold number of inspections or a count-down counter from thepre-established threshold number of inspections to zero. In at least oneinstance, the handle module 402 includes an inspection station insertionswitch 446 (FIG. 12C) that is triggered when the data/power adapter 404is fully and properly inserted into the opening 403. This switch 446 maybe in communication with the handle processor 434 via the control board100 and, when the switch 446 is triggered at step 420 of FIG. 12D, thehandle processor 434 may increment (by +1 or −1 as the case may be,depending on the type of counter) the inspection counter at step 422. Atstep 424, the handle processor 434 may compare the inspection count tothe predetermined threshold. If the threshold has not yet been reached,the handle processor 434 may then output at step 426 the value of theinspection counter to the inspection station processor 442 while in datacommunication with the inspection station 400 via the insert 404.

Referring to FIG. 12E, the inspection station 400 may include a visualdisplay 448 that displays visual information related to the inspectioncounter, such as the number of times the handle module 402 has beenplaced on the inspection station 400 and/or the number (or approximatenumber) of times remaining that the handle module 402 should be placedon the inspection station 400 for inspection before the handle module402 has reached its end-of-life, for example. However, if the inspectioncount threshold has been reached, the process may advance to step 428where appropriate end-of-life action(s) may be taken. One suchend-of-life action is that the display 448 of the inspection station 400may visually display to the user that the handle module 402 should notbe used any further. Another end-of-life action that could be employedin addition to or in lieu of the visual display is that the inspectionstation processor 442 sends an instruction string to the handleprocessor 434 that causes the handle processor 434 to disable furtheruse of the handle module 402. For example, the instruction string couldinstruct the handle processor 434 to never thereafter actuate the motorof the handle module 402 or some other disabling action. For example,the instruction string may instruct the handle processor to set a flagthat, when set, prevents the handle processor 434 from actuating themotor.

In various embodiments, the inspection station insertion switch 446 maybe a pressure switch that is actuated when the data/power adapter 404 isfully inserted into the opening 403 and reset when the data/poweradapter 404 is removed, or at least partially removed, from the opening403. In various aspects, there could be a timer associated with theinspection station insertion switch 446 so that the inspection stationcounter is incremented (step 422 of FIG. 12D) only if the switch 446 isactivated for at least a threshold period of time (e.g., 30 seconds,etc.). Such a timer could reduce the number of false positives, i.e.,short placements of the handle module 402 on the inspection station 400that are likely not associated with post-procedure inspection orsterilization of the handle module 402.

In another variation, the inspection station 400 includes a pressureswitch with a counter whose readout is displayed to a user. Theinspection station pressure switch is activated by placement of thehandle module 402 on the inspection station 400. For example, theinspection station pressure switch could be at the base on the insert404 of the inspection station 400 such that when the handle module 402is fully slid onto the insert 404, the inspection station pressureswitch is activated. Each time the inspection station pressure switch isactivated, the counter could be updated (e.g., incremented by one) sothat the readout shows the number of times that the handle module 402has been installed on the inspection system 400. Such a counter could bea mechanical counter and/or an electronic counter, for example. If thelimit, or threshold, is displayed on the inspection station 400,displayed on the handle module 402, and/or otherwise publicized to theuser, the user can know if the limit has been reached or is beingapproached. In at least one instance, the limit could be printed on theinspection station 400 and/or the handle module 402, for example.

The display 448 of the inspection station 400 could also display otherinformation obtained by the inspection station 400 and/or communicatedto the inspection station 400 from the handle module 402 via the dataconnection therebetween. For example, the handle processor memory maystore a device type identifier for the handle module (e.g., a serialnumber) and that device type identifier may be downloaded to theinspection station processor 442 for display on the display 448. Inaddition to or in lieu of the above, the display 448 may indicate astate of the handle module, such as how close the handle module is toits end-of-life and/or whether or not the handle module as been lockedout, for example, based on status data received from the handleprocessor 434. As described herein, the display 448 could indicate thenumber of remaining uses (e.g., procedures) for the handle module and/orthe number of procedures in which the handle module has been used. Asdisclosed herein, the inspection station 400 could also be used toperform post-procedure testing of the handle module 402 to ensure thatthe handle module 402 can be used in a subsequent procedure. Thistesting can include moisture testing, seal integrity testing, and/orsimulated load testing, for example. The display could indicate theresults of those tests (e.g., passed, failed, in progress).

In addition to or in lieu of the above, the display 448 of theinspection station 400 may indicate the status of the inspection stationitself, such as whether the inspection station is (i) downloading datafrom the handle module, (ii) uploading data and/or software upgrades tothe handle module, (iii) processing data, and/or (iv) performingtesting, for example. The display 448 may indicate results from thetesting and data processing, such as whether the handle module is readyto use in another procedure, whether the handle module needs servicing,whether the warranty of the handle module has expired because the handlemodule has reached its threshold number of uses, for example, and/orother warnings. The display 448 of the inspection station 400 may be aLED-backlit LCD display, for example, that is controlled by theinspection station processor 442. The inspection station 400 may alsoinclude control buttons 410, as shown in FIG. 12E, where a user couldinput data and/or configuration settings that are stored and used by theinspection station processor 442. The display 448 could also be atouch-screen where users could enter data and/or configuration settings,for example, via the touch-screen. The inspection station 400 mayinclude an external data port 412, such as a USB, micro or mini USB, forexample, for connection to a data cable 414 so that data can be uploadedfrom or downloaded to the inspection station 400. For example, proceduredata from the handle module 402 could be downloaded to the inspectionstation 400 and then downloaded to a remote computer device via the dataport 412. Software and/or firmware upgrades could be downloaded from aremote computer device via the data port 412 to the inspection station400 and then uploaded to the handle module 402, for example.

FIGS. 13A and 13B depict an arrangement for tracking the use of a handlemodule by tracking the installation of power packs in the handle module.FIG. 13A is a block diagram of a handle module 500. The handle module500 is similar to the handle module 10 in many respects. The handlemodule 500 includes a removable power pack 502, such as a battery, forexample, and a handle processor 504. FIG. 13B illustrates a process flowthat may be executed by the handle processor 504. The process can beexecuted from firmware and/or software in memory 506 which is associatedwith the processor 504. As illustrated in FIG. 13A, the power pack 502may include an identification emitter 508, such as a RFID tag, forexample, that can communicate with an identification receiver 510, suchas a RFID reader, for example, in the handle module 500. Theidentification emitter 508 is a wireless signal emitter, for example;however, any suitable identification emitter could be used. Theidentification receiver 510 is a wireless signal receiver that is incommunication with the handle processor 504, for example; however, anysuitable identification receiver could be used. The identificationemitter 508 transmits a unique ID for the power pack 502 which can bereceived by the identification receiver 510. The strength of the signalemitted by the identification emitter 508 can be controlled or limitedsuch that the identification receiver 510 can only detect the signalemitted from the identification emitter 508 when the power pack 502 isvery close to the identification receiver 510 (e.g., within 10 cm). Inat least one instance, the identification receiver 510 can be mounted onthe control board 100 (FIGS. 2-4) such that the identification receiver510 can only detect the identification emitter 508 when the power pack502 has been inserted in the handle module 500. In various instances,short range RFID tags and readers could be used such that theidentification receiver 510 is less likely to falsely detect power packs502 that are not installed in the handle module 500.

Referring to the process flow depicted in FIG. 13B, the identificationreader 510 detects an identification emitter at step 520. At step 522,the handle processor 504 determines whether the power pack 502 is a newpower pack based on its ID received by the identification receiver 510.The term “new” in this context means that a particular power pack 502has not been used with a particular handle module 500. The handleprocessor 504 may perform this step by comparing the ID for the newlydetected power pack 502 to a stored list of power pack IDs that werepreviously detected by the identification receiver 510. Such a list ofpreviously-used power pack IDs are stored in a non-volatile memory ofthe handle module 500, for example. If the power pack 502 is not new,i.e., its ID is on the stored list of previously used power packs, theprocess advances to step 524, where appropriate and pre-establishedaction(s) is taken. For example, the handle processor 504 can disableuse of the handle module 500 until a new, i.e., previously-unrecognized,power pack is installed in the handle module 500. In at least one suchinstance, the handle module 500 can disable the motor 80. In addition toor in lieu of the above, the display of the handle module 500 candisplay to the user that the power pack is not new and requestinstallation of a different power pack, which returns the process tostep 520.

If the power pack 502 is determined to be new by the processor 504,i.e., the ID of the power pack 502 is not on the stored list ofpreviously-used power packs, the process advances to step 526 where thehandle processor 504 increments the use count for the handle module 500.As before, a count-up counter and/or a count-down counter could be used.At step 528, the handle processor 504 compares the use count to apre-established threshold value that represents the number of times thatthe handle module 500 should be used with a different, unique powerpack. Such a use count can serve as a proxy for the number of times thehandle module 500 has been used in patient procedures. If the use countthreshold has been reached at step 528, a pre-established end-of-lifeaction(s) can be taken at step 529. For example, the handle processor504 may disable the motor, the handle module display may display to theuser that the handle module 500 has no remaining uses, and/or activatean alarm alerting the user that there are no remaining uses, forexample. If the use count threshold has not been reached, the handleprocessor 504 adds the ID of the new power pack 502 to the stored listof previously-used power packs at step 530 so that the new power pack502 cannot be used after its current use. In other variations, the stepsillustrated in FIG. 13B could be performed in different orders. Forexample, the new power pack ID could be added to the stored list priorto incrementing the use count. Other techniques for trackinginstallation of power packs in the handle module are described below inconnection with FIGS. 14E and 15A-B.

The embodiment described above in connection with FIGS. 13A and 13B canbe used with rechargeable and/or non-rechargeable battery packs. Thatsaid, battery packs which are used with a handle module 500, recharged,and then reused with the same handle module 500 may cause the handlemodule 500 to go into a lockout mode. With regard to this particularembodiment, recharged battery packs would have to be reused with adifferent handle module. Along these lines, an embodiment of the handlemodule 500 is envisioned in which a recharged battery pack can be reusedwith the same handle module 500.

In at least one instance, the processor 504 can employ logic whichprevents a battery pack 502 from being counted two or more times for thesame use. In at least one instance, the processor 504 may not count abattery pack 502 a second time unless it has been dis-engaged from andre-engaged with the handle module 500. Even then, the processor 504 mayrequire an elapsed time between the first engagement and the subsequentengagement before counting the subsequent engagement as a second use.Such an elapsed time could be the time that it takes to recharge thebattery pack, for example.

In addition to or in lieu of the above, a handle module can track thenumber of times that a DSM is connected to and/or disconnected from thehandle module as a proxy for the number of times that the handle modulehas been used. The handle module can display the updated number of usesremaining for the handle module, the estimated number of uses remainingfor the handle module, such as with a volume indicator that indicatesthe percentage of life remaining, for example, and/or the number oftimes that the handle module has been used. When the use threshold limithas been reached, the handle module, via the handle processor, can takeone or more end-of-life actions, such as displaying that the handlemodule is spent, disabling further use of the handle module by disablingthe motor, for example, and/or sounding an audible alarm, for example.FIGS. 14A-G represent different arrangements for tracking the connectionor disconnection of an DSM to a handle module, as discussed in greaterdetail further below.

Turning now to FIG. 14A, a handle module 600, which is similar to thehandle module 10 in many respects, comprises two rotary drive systems602, 604. A DSM having two drive systems, discussed above, can beoperably coupled to the rotary drive systems 602, 604. The DSM can havegrooves that are configured to receive and slide onto bilateral edges605A, 605B of a tongue defined in a connection area 608 on the upperportion of the handle module 600. In such an arrangement, the handlemodule 600 may include a depressible switch 612 on the tongue, as shownin FIG. 14A, and/or elsewhere in the connection area 608 such that, whena DSM, such as DSM 634 (FIGS. 14B and 14C), for example, is connected tothe handle module 600, the depressible switch 612 is depressed. In atleast one instance, the DSM may not depress the switch 612 until the DSMhas been fully seated onto the handle module 600. The switch 612 may beconnected to the handle processor wherein the handle processor may countthe number of times the depressible switch 612 is depressed as a proxyfor the number of times that a DSM has been connected to the handlemodule 600 and/or as a proxy for the number of times that the handlemodule 600 has been used. Also, the handle processor could require thatthe depressible switch 612 be depressed continuously for at least acertain period of time (e.g., 30 seconds) before incrementing the countto reduce instances of false positives. When a pre-established thresholdnumber of uses, or activations of switch 612, has been reached, anend-of-life action(s) may be performed, as described herein.

FIGS. 14B and 14C illustrate one arrangement for an electro-mechanicaldepressible switch 612. As shown, the depressible switch 612 includes ahead 620 that extends into an opening 622 defined in the tongue and/orany other suitable DSM-mating surface of the handle module 600. The head620 may be at the end of a spring arm 624 configured to bias theposition of the head 620 upwardly into the opening 622. The spring arm624 also includes a shoulder 626 positioned behind an extension, oredge, 628 defined in the handle module 600 that limits the upwardmovement of the head 620 in the opening 622 to a desired position. Thedepressible switch 612 also includes a contact 630. When the switch 612is in an unactuated, or open, condition, as illustrated in FIG. 14B, thespring arm 624 is not in engaged with the contact 630; when the DSM 634is attached to the handle module 600 and pushes the head 620 downwardly,as illustrated in FIG. 14C, the shoulder 626 of the spring arm 624engages the contact 630 and closes the switch 612. The DSM 634 includesa projection 632 extending therefrom which is configured to contact thehead 620. The switch arm 624 and the contact 630 can be comprised ofelectrically conductive materials which can complete a circuit incommunication with the handle processor when the head 620 is depresseddownwardly by the DSM 634, as discussed above.

Referring now to FIG. 14D, a handle module 700 may include an electricalcontact board 702 that interfaces/mates with and makes electricalconnections to a corresponding electrical contact board 704 on a DSM706. In at least one instance, the processor of the handle module 700may count the number of times that a DSM, such as the DSM 706, forexample, is assembled to the handle module 700. The processor canincrease the DSM-connection count when the contacts 704 of the DSM 706engage the contacts 702 of the handle module 700 and make a working dataconnection therebetween. The mating of the contact boards 702, 704 canserve as a proxy for the number of times that a DSM has been connectedto the handle module 700 and as a proxy for the number of times that thehandle module 700 has been used. Similar to the above, the handleprocessor could require that there be a data connection between thecontact boards 702, 704 continuously for at least a certain period oftime (e.g., 30 seconds) before incrementing the count to reduce theinstances of false positives. In another variation, the handle processorand the DSM processor may exchange data when the DSM 706 is connected tothe handle module 700. In this exchange, the handle processor canreceive identification information for the DSM 706 so that the handleprocessor can identify the DSM 706 connected to the handle module 700(e.g., the model type for the DSM). In such an arrangement, the handleprocessor may increment the DSM-connection count each time that thehandle processor receives identification information from a DSM that isattached thereto. In any of these variations, the handle processorcompares the DSM connection count to a pre-established threshold, and ifthe threshold is reached, the handle processor takes an end-of-lifeaction(s).

An alternative arrangement for detecting the connection of a DSM to ahandle module is shown in FIGS. 14E-14G. The illustrated arrangementuses a Hall Effect sensor to detect the connection of the DSM 706 to thehandle module 700. As shown in FIG. 14E, the handle module 700 mayinclude a Hall Effector sensor 710 positioned relative to an uppersurface 712 of the handle module 700 to which the DSM 706 is to beattached. Correspondingly, the DSM 706 includes a magnet 714, such as apermanent magnet, for example, that is in close proximity to the HallEffect sensor 710 when the DSM 706 is fully and properly connected tothe handle module 700, as shown in FIG. 14G. The Hall Effector sensor710 may be in communication with the handle processor via a lead wire716, for example. The Hall Effect sensor 710 can sense the approachingmagnet 714 of the DSM 706 as the DSM 706 is installed on the handlemodule 700. The magnetic field generated by the magnet 714 may beconstant and the handle processor can have access to data regarding themagnetic field such that the distance between the magnet 714 and theHall Effect sensor 710 can be determined based on the output of the HallEffect sensor 710. Once the distance between the magnet 714 and the HallEffect sensor 710 stabilizes to a distance corresponding to the DSM 706being fully and properly installed on the handle module 700, the handleprocessor can infer that the DSM 706 is fully and properly installed onthe handle module 700 and update the DSM-connection count.

Similarly, referring again to FIG. 14E, the handle module 700 includes abattery cavity 724 configured to receive a battery pack 722 therein. Thehandle module 700 further includes a Hall Effect sensor 720 configuredto detect the insertion of the removable battery pack 722 into thebattery cavity 724. The battery-pack Hall Effect sensor 720 can bepositioned at an upper interior surface 723 in the battery cavity 724 inthe handle module 700 for the battery pack 722. As the reader willappreciate, the battery pack 722 is configured to supply power to thehandle module 700 via electrical terminals 726 and it may be desirableto position the Hall Effect sensor 720 as far away as possible from theelectrical terminals 726 such that any magnetic fields generated by thecurrent flowing through the terminals 726 do not substantially disturbthe ability of the Hall Effect sensor 720 to properly detect theinsertion of the battery pack 722 into the handle module 700. Thebattery pack 722 includes a magnet 730, such as a permanent magnet, forexample, that the Hall Effect sensor 720 senses as the battery pack 722is inserted into the battery cavity 724. Similar to the DSM Hall Effectsensor 710, the battery pack Hall Effector sensor 720 is incommunication with the handle processor via a lead wire 732, forexample. The Hall Effect sensor 720 can sense the approaching batterypack magnet 730 as the battery pack 722 is installed into the batterycavity 724. The magnetic field generated by the magnet 730 may beconstant and the handle processor can have access to data regarding themagnetic field such that the distance between the magnet 730 and theHall Effect sensor 720 can be determined based on the output of the HallEffect sensor 720. Once the distance between the magnet 730 and the HallEffect sensor 720 stabilizes to a distance corresponding to the batterypack 722 being fully and properly installed in the handle module 700,the handle processor can infer that the battery pack 722 is fully andproperly installed in the handle module 700 and update thebattery-pack-connection count.

A handle module can track the number of times that a DSM and/or abattery pack is connected to and/or disconnected from the handle moduleas a proxy for the number of times that the handle module has been used.The handle module can display the updated number of uses remaining forthe handle module, the estimated number of uses remaining for the handlemodule, such as with a volume indicator that indicates the percentage oflife remaining, for example, and/or the number of times that the handlemodule has been used. When the use threshold limit has been reached, thehandle module, via the handle processor, can take one or moreend-of-life actions, such as displaying that the handle module is spent,disabling further use of the handle module by disabling the motor, forexample, and/or sounding an audible alarm, for example.

Turning now to FIGS. 15A and 15B, a handle module 800 can track theinstallation of power packs thereto utilizing a pressure switch that isdepressed when a power pack 806, for example, is completely and properlyattached to the handle module 800. The handle module 800 is similar tothe handle module 10 in many respects. The handle 800 includes anelectrically conductive contact pad 802 that the power pack 806 connectsto in order to supply voltage to the electrical components of the handlemodule 800. In the illustrated arrangement, a pressure switch 804 isadjacent to the conductive contact pad 802 and it is in communicationwith the handle processor. When the power pack 806 is assembled to thehandle module 800, referring to FIG. 15B, the housing of the power pack806 depresses and actuates the pressure switch 804. Each time thepressure switch 804 is actuated, the handle processor can increment thepower-pack-connection count until a threshold is reached, at which pointan end of life action(s) can be undertaken. Similar to the above, thehandle processor may require that the pressure switch 804 be actuatedcontinuously for a period of time (e.g., 30 seconds) before incrementingthe power-pack-connection count to reduce instances of false positives.In other arrangements, an electro-mechanical switch could be used, forexample.

In various instances, a processor of a handle module can increment theuse count each time that the handle processor is powered on. In certaininstances, the processor of a handle module can automatically power downwhen a battery pack is disengaged from the handle module. Similarly, theprocessor can automatically power up when a battery pack is engaged withthe handle module. In at least one such embodiment, the battery pack isthe sole power source for the handle module and the disconnection of thebattery pack from the handle module may immediately de-power theprocessor and the connection of a battery pack to the handle module mayimmediately re-power the processor. In certain embodiments, the handlemodule can include one or more capacitive elements which can store powerfrom a battery pack when the battery pack is engaged with the handlemodule. When the battery pack is disconnected from the handle module,the capacitive elements can provide power to the processor for a periodof time and, as a result, the processor may not power down during abattery pack change. In such instances, the processor can count a life,or use, event if a battery installation is detected by a sensor, asdescribed above, and/or if the processor is powered on after beingde-powered.

In various instances, the handle processor of the handle module 800 cantrack how often it receives electrical power via the conductive contactpad 802 that is used to couple the battery power pack 806 to theinternal electrical components of the handle module 800. For example,the handle module 800 may comprise a micro voltage and/or current sensor(not shown) connected to the conductive contact pad 802. The voltageand/or current sensor may be in communication with the handle processor.When a threshold input voltage and/or current from the power pack 806 isdetected at the contact pad 802, the handle processor can increment thebattery-pack-connection count. This arrangement may be useful where thehandle processor is powered at times by power sources other than thepower pack, such as by supercapacitors or other sources.

Turning now to FIG. 16, a handle module 900 comprises a plurality ofpower sources, including a removable battery power pack 902 and asecondary power source 904, for example. The removable battery powerpack 902 is similar to the removable battery power packs describedherein in many respects. The battery power pack 902 contains multiple Liion and/or LiPo battery cells, for example. The secondary power source904 provides a source of power to the handle module 900 even when theremovable battery power pack 902 has been removed or otherwisedisconnected from the handle module 900. With regard to this embodiment,the secondary power source 904 is used for low-power operations of thehandle module 900, such as powering the electronic components on thecontrol board 910 when the removable battery power pack 902 is removedfrom the handle module 900—and not for high-power operations, such aspowering the motor(s) 905 of the handle module 900, for example. Invarious arrangements, the secondary power source 904 may compriserechargeable battery cells and/or supercapacitors (a/k/aultracapacitors) that are charged by the removable battery power pack902 when it is installed. The secondary power source 904 can power theelectronic components on the control board 910 in the absence of theprimary power source 902 for as long as the secondary power source 904possesses a sufficient charge.

The secondary power source 904 may permit the handle module 900 to trackuse events and/or take end-of-life actions even when the power pack 902is not installed in the handle module 900. FIG. 17A is a flow chart of aprocess executable by the processor of the control board 910, such ashandle processor 2124, for example. The process can be executed fromsoftware and/or firmware stored in the memory of the handle module, forexample, in accordance with at least one embodiment. Prior to performinga surgical procedure, the power pack 902 is installed in the handlemodule 900. At step 920 of the process, the handle processor may recorda time stamp for when a DSM is properly connected to the handle module900. Once the surgical procedure begins, at step 922, the handleprocessor may record time stamps for each firing of the handle module900 that occur during the surgical procedure. In addition, the handleprocessor can track the time which elapses between the firings. In atleast one instance, the secondary power source 904 can continue tosupply power to the handle processor to track the time following afiring event even if the removable power pack 902 is removed from thehandle module 900. At step 924, the handle processor can determinewhether the elapsed time since the last firing is greater than athreshold time period. In at least one instance, the threshold timeperiod may be on the order of the time required to substantially processand sterilize the handle module following a procedure, for example. Ifthe time period between firings is not greater than the threshold, itcan be assumed that the procedure is ongoing and the process may returnto step 922 to record the time stamp for the next firing. On the otherhand, if the time period between firings is greater than the threshold,it can be assumed that the procedure has concluded, at which point, atstep 926, the handle processor can increment the use count of the handlemodule 900. At step 928, the handle processor compares the use count tothe pre-programmed threshold use count for the handle module 900. If theuse count is less than the threshold, the handle module 900 can be usedin another procedure and the process can return to step 920 to awaitconnection of a DSM for the next procedure. On the other hand, if theuse count threshold has been reached, the process advances to step 930,where the end-of-life action(s) for the handle module 900 can beinitiated. As described above, the end-of-life action(s) can includedisabling the handle module such that the handle module cannot be usedin subsequent surgical procedures. In at least one instance, the motorof the handle module can be physically and/or electronically disabled.In certain instances, the end-of-life action(s) include visuallyindicating the end of life for the handle module on a display of thehandle module and/or sounding an audible alarm, for example.

FIG. 17B is a flow chart of another exemplary process that can beexecuted by the handle processor and powered at times by the secondarypower source 904 to track uses of the handle module. At step 950, thehandle processor can detect the connection of the removable batterypower pack 902 to the handle module 900. Various techniques fordetecting the insertion of the battery power pack 902 are describedelsewhere herein. In various instances, the insertion of the power pack902 indicates to the handle processor that a surgical procedureinvolving the handle module 900 is about to commence. As a result, thehandle processor can set a process flag to ON at step 952 when thehandle processor detects the insertion of the power pack 902 into thehandle module 900. At step 954, the handle processor can detect thecomplete and proper connection of a DSM to the handle module for theprocedure. Various techniques for detecting the attachment of a DSM aredescribed elsewhere herein. Once the DSM and the battery pack 902 havebeen properly attached, the surgical instrument can be used to completea surgical procedure. In the event that the battery pack 902 is removedfrom the handle module 900, the handle processor can detect removal ofthe battery power pack 902 at step 956. Various techniques for detectingthe removal of a power pack are disclosed elsewhere herein. In variousinstances, removal of the power pack is indicative of the conclusion ofa surgical procedure and, as a result, the handle processor, now poweredby the secondary power source 904, can increment the use count for thehandle module 900 at step 958. Even if the removal of the power packdoes not constitute the end of a surgical procedure, the insertion of anew battery pack and/or the re-insertion of a re-charged battery packcan be viewed as another use. Such reuse of the handle module 900 may beconditioned on a test administered at step 960 to assess whether thehandle module 900 has reached the end of its useful life. If the end ofthe handle module's life has been reached, the handle processor caninitiate an appropriate end-of-life action(s) at step 962. Variousend-of-life actions are disclosed elsewhere herein. It should beappreciated that, with regard to any of the embodiments disclosedherein, an end-of-life action can be overridden by the user of thehandle module. Such instances can typically arise when the use thresholdcount has been reached in the middle of a surgical procedure, forexample.

FIGS. 18A-18E show end-of-life actions that could be taken by a handlemodule that uses a removably battery power pack, for example, to preventfurther use of the handle module. FIG. 18A illustrates a handle module1000 which includes an internal spring-activated lock-out 1002. Thelock-out 1002, when released by the handle module 1000, prevents thecomplete and proper installation of a battery power pack 1004, and/orany other suitable battery pack, into the handle module 1000. In variousinstances, the lock-out 1002 can be configured to completely prevent thepower pack 1004 from entering the handle module 1000. In otherinstances, the lock-out 1002 can prevent the power pack 1004 from beinginserted to a depth in which the battery contacts make electricalcontact with the handle contacts, as illustrated in FIG. 18A anddescribed in greater detail further below. Owing to the activation ofthe lock-out 1002, the power pack 1004 sticks out of the handle module1000 by a distance D, as also illustrated in FIG. 18A. But for thelock-out 1002, the battery pack 1004 could be seated to a depth in whichan end cap 1006 of the battery pack 1004 is flush, or at leastsubstantially flush, with the housing of the handle module 1000.

As discussed above, the lock-out 1002 can selectively prevent the powerpack 1004 from supplying power to the handle module 1000. In thenon-locked-out state of the handle module 1000 illustrated in FIG. 18B,an electrical contact pad 1016 of the handle module 1000 can be incontact with a contact pad 1018 of the battery pack 1004 so that theinternal electrical components of the handle module 1000 can be poweredby the battery power pack 1004. In the locked-out state of the handlemodule 1000 illustrated in FIG. 18C, the lock-out 1002 prevents thecontact pad 1018 of the battery pack 1004 from contacting the contactpad 1016 of the handle module 1000. In embodiments where the handlemodule 1000 does not include a secondary power source and/or a means forstoring power, the handle module 1000 will be unusable in its locked-outcondition. In embodiments where the handle module 1000 includes asecondary power source and/or a means for storing power, the handlemodule 1000 can utilize the power from these other sources to run theoperating system of the handle module 1000, but not the drive systemsand/or electric motors of the handle module 1000, for example.

FIG. 18B illustrates the lock-out 1002 in a normal, operational statewhere it is not locking out the battery pack 1004 and FIG. 18Cillustrates the lock-out 1002 in the locked-out state where it islocking out the battery pack 1004. The lock-out 1002 is biased to rotatefrom its unlocked position (FIG. 18B) to its locked-out position (FIG.18C) by a torsion spring 1010 that is connected to the lock-out 1002.The torsion spring 1010 has a first end biased against an internalsurface 1013 of the handle module 1000 and a second end mounted to thelock-out 1002. The handle module 1000 further includes a latch 1012configured to releasably hold the lock-out 1002 in its unlockedposition. The lock-out 1002 includes a lock shoulder 1014 that abuts thelatch 1012 when the latch 1012 is in an extended position and, thus,holds the lock-out 1002 in its unlocked position. When the latch 1012 isretracted, as illustrated in FIG. 18C, the shoulder 1014 of the lock-out1002 is no longer engaged with the latch 1012 and the torsion spring1010 can bias the lock-out 1002 into its locked-out position.

When an end-of-life condition of the handle module 1000 has not yet beenreached, a latch actuator of the handle module 1000 can hold the latch1012 in the position illustrated in FIG. 18B. When an end-of-lifecondition is reached, however, the latch actuator may move the latch1012 in the direction indicated by arrow A to move the latch 1012 awayfrom the lock shoulder 1014 thereby allowing the lock-out 1002 to rotatecounter-clockwise, as indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 18C, due to thebias of the spring 1010. In the locked-out state, the lock-out 1002protrudes into the battery compartment of the handle module such that,when a battery pack 1004 is inserted in the handle module 1000, theelectrical contact pad 1016 of the handle module 1000 does not contactthe contact pad 1018 of the battery pack 1004, as discussed above. Thelatch actuator can comprise any suitable actuator, such as a solenoid,for example.

In addition to or in lieu of the above, FIGS. 18D and 18E illustrate anembodiment in which, at the determined end-of-life for the handlemodule, a battery pack positioned in the handle module cannot be removedfrom the handle module, thereby preventing the insertion of a new (orrecharged) battery pack in the handle module for a subsequent procedure.FIG. 18D illustrates a battery pack 1004 in a normal, operational statewhere it can be removed from the handle module following a procedure andFIG. 18E illustrates a latch 1040 locking the battery pack 1004 in thehandle module such that the battery pack 1004 cannot be removed from thehandle module. As shown in FIGS. 18D and 18E, the battery pack 1004 maydefine an opening 1042 in which a latch head 1044 of the latch 1040 canbe inserted to lock the battery pack 1004 in position. The latch 1040 isbiased downwardly by a compression spring 1046 mounted on an upper shaft1048 of the latch 1040. The latch 1040 also includes an upper shoulder1050 that, in the normal operating state of the handle module, shown inFIG. 18D, abuts a second latch 1052 that is positioned to keep thespring 1046 in a compressed state and prevent the downward movement ofthe latch 1040. As also shown in FIGS. 18D and 18E, the latch head 1044includes a shoulder 1054 that, when the latch 1044 is in its actuatedposition as shown in FIG. 18E, locks behind a mating shoulder 1056defined by the battery pack 1004.

In operation, when the handle processor determines that the handlemodule has reached the end of its life (by any of the means describedherein), the handle processor may actuate the second latch 1052 causingthe second latch 1052 to move out of the way of the latch 1044. Thesecond latch 1052 may be actuated by any suitable actuator, such as asolenoid, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, the second latch1052 moves left to right away from the shoulder 1050 of the latch 1040as indicated by the arrow A when the latch 1052 is actuated. The removalof the second latch 1052 away from the shoulder 1050 allows the spring1046 to decompress and urge the latch 1044 downward, as indicated by thearrow B, through an opening 1060 defined in the housing 1013 of thehandle module. As the latch 1040 is moved downwardly by the spring 1046,the latch head 1044 extends into the opening 1042 defined in the batterypack 1004. The latch shoulder 1054 of the latch head 1044 can slidethrough the opening 1042 and lock in behind the mating shoulder 1056 ofthe battery pack 1004. The downward movement of the latch head 1044 islimited by the handle module housing 1013 when the upper shoulder 1050of the latch 1040 contacts the handle module housing 1013. As a result,the battery pack 1004 cannot be removed from the handle module, therebypreventing insertion of a new (or recharged) battery pack into thehandle module for a subsequent procedure.

Referring now to FIGS. 19A-19C, a handle module 1100 comprises arechargeable battery pack 1102 (with one or more rechargeable batterycells 1104) that can be recharged when the handle module 1100 is dockedto a charging station 1106. The handle module 1100 further includes aslidable door 1108 that slides, generally up and down in a channel 1110defined in the handle module 1100, between an open position (FIG. 19C)and a closed position (FIG. 19B). A compression spring 1112 ispositioned in the channel 1110 which is configured to bias the slidabledoor 1108 downwardly into its closed position. When the door 1108 is inits closed position, the door 1108 can shield the battery chargingterminals 1114, as depicted in FIG. 19B, from being damaged and/oraccidentally coming into contact with a conductive surface in thesurrounding environment, for example. To recharge the battery cells1104, the handle module 1100 is placed in a receiving area 1120 definedby the charging station 1106 that includes charging terminals 1122 thatmate and contact with the charging terminals 1114 of the handle module1100 when the handle module 1100 is inserted fully and properly in thereceiving area 1120, as shown in FIG. 19C. As the handle module 1100 isplaced in the received area 1120, the slidable door 1108 engages ashoulder 1124 of the charging station 1106 which urges the slidable door1108 upward, as indicated by the arrow A, compressing the spring 1112,and unshielding (or revealing) the battery pack charging terminals 1114.At such point, the charging terminals 1114 can connect to and contactthe receiving station charging terminals 1122 to thereby recharge thebattery cells 1104 of the battery pack 1102.

The charging station 1106 may be powered by an AC power supply via apower cord 1130. The charging station 1106 may also include a visualdisplay 1132 that displays information about the handle module 1100. Forexample, the charging station 1106 may include a processor (not shown)that communicates with the handle processor when the handle module 1100is installed in the charging station 1106. For example, the chargingterminals 1114, 1122 may also include data terminals that provide a datapath between the processors. The charging station processor can receiveinformation/data from the handle processor that can be displayed on thedisplay 1132. The displayed information can include, for example, thecharge status of the battery pack 1102 (e.g., X % charged) and/or anyinformation tracked by the handle processor, such as the life count orremaining uses of the handle module and/or the number of lifetimefirings, for example.

FIGS. 20A-20B show covers 1201, 1202, 1203 that can be used with ahandle module 1200 during a sterilization process to protect theinternal components of the handle module 1200. The handle module 1200includes an attachment portion configured to have a DSM attachedthereto. An end effector connection area cover 1201 can connect to(e.g., snap-fit) and cover where the DSM connects to the handle module1200. The handle module 1200 also includes a removable trigger assemblywhich is used to actuate the drive systems of the handle module 1200. Inaddition to or in lieu of the above, a trigger cover 1202 can connect to(e.g., snap-fit) and cover the opening that is created when the firingtrigger assembly is removed from the handle module 1200. The handlemodule 1200 further comprises a battery cavity configured to receive aremovable power pack therein. Also in addition to or in lieu of theabove, a battery pack cover 1203 can connect to and cover where thebattery pack is inserted in a pistol grip portion 1206 of the handlemodule 1200. These covers 1201, 1202, 1203 are preferably made of amaterial that is resistant to the chemicals used to sterilize the handlemodule, such as plastic, for example. Further, the covers 1201, 1202,1203 can cover electrical contacts of the handle module 1200 includingan end effector contact board 1210, drive systems 1212, and/or theinternal contacts for the battery pack (not shown), for example.

The attachment of the covers 1201, 1202, and/or 1203 to the handlemodule 1200 can aid in tracking the number of times that the handlemodule 1200 has been used and/or sterilized. Similarly, the detachmentof the covers 1201, 1202, and/or 1203 from the handle module 1200 canaid in tracking the number of times that the handle 1200 has been usedand/or sterilized. At least one of the covers 1201, 1202, 1203 caninclude means to trigger a switch on the handle module 1200 indicatingthat the cover has been installed. When such a switch is triggered, thehandle processor can assume that a sterilization procedure is imminentand enter a sterilization operation mode which is optimized to endure asterilization procedure. When the handle processor is in a sterilizationoperation mode, the handle processor can prevent the motor(s) of thehandle module 1200 from being operated, de-power certain contacts and/orsensors, power-up certain contacts and/or sensors, record any datastored in transient memory to a memory chip, copy the memory of thehandle module to a back-up memory, and/or create a copy the currentversion of the operating system software for the handle module, forexample. The handle processor can also increase the use count of thehandle module 1200 when one or more of the covers 1201, 1202, 1203 areattached to or detached from the handle module 1200. In the illustratedarrangement, the DSM connection area cover 1201 includes a protrusion1220 that contacts and actuates a corresponding switch 1222 on thehandle module 1200 (e.g., a depressible switch, or a contact switch,etc.) when the cover 1201 is placed on the handle module 1200. Theswitch 1222 may be in communication with the handle processor and, invarious instances, the handle processor may update its sterilizationcount when actuation of the switch 1222 is detected. In otherarrangements, the trigger 1220 could be on other cover pieces 1202, 1203and/or placed in different position on the DSM connection area cover1201. In any event, since the battery pack is ordinarily removed duringsterilization, the covers 1201, 1202, 1203 are preferably used in ahandle module with a secondary power source that powers the handleprocessor even when the battery pack is removed, as described herein. Asdescribed in other arrangements herein, the handle processor mayimplement one or more of the end-of-life actions described herein whenthe sterilization count reaches the threshold level.

FIG. 20C shows a variation of the battery pack cover 1203 and FIG. 20Dshows a battery pack 1240 that is interchangeable with the battery packcover 1203 in FIG. 20C. Because the battery pack cover 1203 and thebattery pack 1240 are both designed to fit into the battery pack openingin the pistol grip portion 1206 of the handle module 1200 in lieu of oneanother, the battery pack cover 1203 of FIG. 20C has a shape andconfiguration that is very similar to the battery pack 1240 of FIG. 20D.For example, the battery pack cover 1203 and the battery pack 1240 bothinclude a clip 1244 for locking to the handle module 1200. Also, thebattery pack cover 1203 and the battery pack 1240 both include one ormore tubular vessels 1242. The battery cells 1246 may be inside thevessels 1242 in the battery pack 1240 but not for the cover 1203. Thecover 1203, however, also includes a feature(s) that readilydistinguishes it from the battery pack 1240. In the illustratedarrangement, the cover 1203 includes a relatively thin, long,easily-graspable tab 1248 at the bottom of the cover 1203 that caninclude markings indicating that it is for use in sterilization, asshown in FIG. 20C.

As also shown in FIGS. 20C and 20D, each of the cover 1203 and thebattery pack 1240 may include a respective tab 1250, 1252 that arelocated in different relative locations. In the illustrated arrangement,the tab 1250 of the cover 1203 is on the right vessel 1242 and the tab1252 on the battery pack 1240 is on the left vessel 1242 thereof. Wheninserted into the handle module 1200, the tabs 1250, 1252 may contactand actuate corresponding and respective switches in the handle module1200 to identify the insertion of the cover 1203 or battery pack 1240,as the case may be. The switches (not shown) may be in communicationwith the handle processor, and the handle processor can use theactuation of the respective switches to update its use, sterilization,and/or battery-pack-connection counts, as the case may be. The actuationof the sterilization switch can place the handle module 1200 in asterilization operation mode and the actuation of the battery switch canplace the handle module in a surgical operation mode, for example. Thetabs 1250, 1252 are preferably in two different locations such that thehandle module 1200 may include two different switches: a battery switchwhich is only actuated by the battery pack 1240 and a sterilizationswitch which is only actuated by the sterilization cover 1203. Invarious arrangements, the tabs 1250, 1252 could be located at mirroropposite positions on the vessels 1242, for example. Both the cover 1203and battery pack 1240 can include feature(s) so that they can only beinserted in one orientation, to thereby prevent the battery pack tab1252 from actuating the sterilization cover switch and vice versa. Inthe illustrated arrangement, for instance, the battery pack cover 1203and the battery pack 1240 both include a tongue 1254 on only one sidethereof that can fit into a corresponding groove defined in only oneside of the handle module 1200.

FIGS. 21A-21C show exemplary displays for a handle module 1300 and/or aDSM 1302 that may provide visual information to a user about the statusof the handle module 1300 and/or DSM 1302. As shown in FIG. 21A, thedisplay may include a display portion 1304A on the handle module 1300and a display portion 1304B on the DSM. The display portions 1304A and1304B can be adjacent to one another or separated from one another. Incertain instances, the display portions 1304A and 1304B can be utilizedto display discrete, or non-overlapping, sets of information. In variousinstances, the display portions 1304A and 1304B can be utilized todisplay co-ordinated information which may or may not be duplicative. Incertain other instances, the display 1304 could be wholly on the DSM1302 as shown in FIG. 21B or, alternatively, the display 1304 could bewholly on the handle module 1300 as shown in FIG. 21C. The display 1304may comprise a flat panel display, such as a LED-backlit LCD flat paneldisplay, for example, and/or any other suitable flat panel or non-flatpanel display type. The display 1304 may be controlled by the handleprocessor and/or the DSM processor.

FIG. 21D shows an exemplary display configuration wherein the displaycomprises adjacent handle and end effector portions 1304A, 1304B. Asshown in FIG. 21D, the handle portion 1304A indicators may includeindicators related to the handle module, such as a battery statusindicator 1310, an indicator 1312 that shows that the DSM connected tothe handle module is recognized, and/or a general handle module errorindicator 1314. The DSM display 1304B may include indicators related tothe DSM, such as an indicator 1320 for whether the end effector jaws areclosed, an indicator for whether the staples in the end effector havenot yet been fired, an indicator 1322 for whether the staples have beenproperly fired, and/or an indicator 1324 for whether there is an errorrelated to the staples or staple cartridge, for example. Of course, inother variations, fewer, more, and/or different icons could be used toalert the user/clinician as to the status of various components andaspects of the handle module 1300 and/or DSM 1302. For example, thedisplay 1304 may indicate the number of firings remaining for thebattery pack and/or the number of remaining uses for the handle module,for example. The display may include buttons and/or a touch screeninterface where a user/clinician could input information to the handlemodule and/or DSM processors/memory.

In various instances, a removable battery pack may be sterilized andrecharged after a procedure so that it can be reused in a subsequentprocedure in the same handle module and/or a different handle module.FIG. 22 is a diagram of a removable battery pack 1350 that can track thenumber of times it has been sterilized, which can be a proxy for thenumber of times that the battery pack 1350 has been used in surgicalprocedures. The battery pack 1350 may include a number of battery cells1352 with output voltage terminals 1354. As shown in FIG. 22, thebattery pack 1350 may also include a battery pack processor 1360 mountedto a battery pack circuit board 1362. The battery pack processor 1360may include internal or external memory (such as external memory chip1364 mounted to the circuit board 1362), and the battery pack processor1360 can execute software/firmware stored in the memory. As such, thebatter pack processor, 1360 can implement a battery management system(BMS) that manages the rechargeable battery. The BMS can protect thebattery from being operated outside its safe operating area, monitor thestate of the battery, calculate secondary data, report that data,control its environment, authenticate the battery, and/or balance thecells of the battery, for example.

In various arrangements, the battery pack 1350 may also include a micromoisture or humidity sensor 1366 for sensing when the battery pack 1350is in a moist or humid environment consistent with undergoing asterilization process, for example. The battery pack processor 1360 maybe in communication with the moisture/humidity sensor 1366 such that,for each instance that the moisture/humidity sensor 1366 detects athreshold level of moisture or humidity for a threshold period of timewhich is consistent with a typical sterilization process, the batteryprocessor 1360 may update its sterilization count as a proxy for thenumber of times the battery pack 1350 has been used. In variousinstances, the battery processor 1360 can be configured to not countaberrational events that might yield false positives. In any event, oncethe threshold sterilization count has been reached, the battery packprocessor 1360 may disable use of the battery pack 1350. For example, asshown in FIG. 22, the battery pack 1350 may include a data terminal 1368that can provide a connection to the handle processor of the handlemodule. When the battery pack 1350 is spent (e.g., reached thesterilization count threshold), the battery pack processor 1360 may senda signal to the handle processor that the battery pack 1350 should notbe used. The handle processor may then indicate through its display thatthere is a problem with the battery pack 1350.

In various instances, the battery pack processor 1360 may update its usecount based on data connections to a handle module. Every time thebattery pack processor 1360 detects a data connection to a handlemodule, the battery pack processor can update its use count.

The battery pack 1350 may include a secondary power source (not shown)that is charged by the battery cells 1352 when the battery cells 1352are charged and/or supply power to a handle module during a surgicalprocedure. In such an embodiment, the low-power battery pack electroniccomponents can remain powered even when the battery pack 1350 is notinstalled in a handle module. Also, as shown in FIG. 22, the batterypack 1350 may include an end cap 1370 and a latch 1372 for facilitatingthe connection of the battery pack 1350 to the handle module.

FIGS. 23A and 23B illustrate another possible end-of-life action for ahandle module. In the illustrated arrangement, a handle module 1400includes a projecting portion 1402 that is movable between a retractedposition and an extended position. Prior to the end-of-life of thehandle module 1400, the projecting portion 1402 is held in its retractedposition. In such a position, the projecting portion 1402 does notinterfere with the handle module 1400 being positioned in thecorresponding opening in its sterilization tray 1404. Once the handleprocessor determines that the handle module 1400 has reached itsend-of-life, according to any suitable algorithm, the projecting portion1402 is moved into its extended position. In such a position, theprojecting portion 1402 interferes with the proper placement of thehandle module 1400 in its corresponding opening in the sterilizationtray 1404. In the illustrated arrangement, the projecting portion 1402is at the distal end 1406 of the handle module 1400, but it could beplaced anywhere that is convenient and that, when projected, inhibitsplacing the handle module 1400 in the corresponding opening of thesterilization tray 1404. As mentioned before in connection with FIG.11A, the sterilization tray includes an opening whose shape correspondsto the shape of the handle module so that the handle module is closelyreceived in the opening. In the arrangement of FIGS. 23A and 23B, thehandle module 1400 fits into the opening in the sterilization tray 1404when the projection portion 1402 is retracted (not projected), but doesnot fit into the opening when the projecting portion 1402 is projectedoutwardly from the handle module 1400 as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B. Theprojecting portion 1402 may be solenoid-driven, for example. When thehandle processor has determined that the end-of-life for the handlemodule 1400 has been reached, the coil of the solenoid is energized sothat the solenoid armature is extended outwardly thereby causing theprojecting portion 1402 to extend outwardly from the handle module 1400,for example. The handle module 1400 may also include a stopper, such asa spring-loaded detent, for example, that prevents the retraction of thesolenoid armature and the projecting portion 1402 once they have beenactuated.

As described in connection with FIGS. 12A-E, a handle module could beconnected to an inspection station before, during, and/or following aprocedure. The inspection station can be used to perform tests on thehandle module to determine if the handle module is in a conditionsuitable for another surgical procedure, or whether the handle moduleneeds to be conditioned or repaired before it is suitable for anothersurgical procedure. As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, an inspection station1500 includes an extension 1504 configured to be inserted into the emptybattery cavity of a handle module such that the extension 1504 can beplaced in communication with the handle module, similar to theembodiments described above. A handle module 1501 depicted in FIG. 24Bcomprises such a handle module, for example. The inspection stationincludes a vacuum coupling 1502 at the upper portion of the extension1504 which can mate to a corresponding vacuum coupling 1506 in theinternal portion of the handle module 1501. The inspection station 1500may be connected to a vacuum pump via a vacuum port 1508, which isconnected to the vacuum coupling 1502 of the inspection station 1500 viaa tube 1510. When the vacuum pump is turned on, it may draw air from theinternal portion of the handle module 1501 to dry the internal portionsof the handle module 1501. The inspection station 1500 may includepressure gauges and/or air flow sensors in communication with the tube1510 that measure how well the handle module 1501 holds the vacuumpressure. In various instances, such a vacuum test can evaluate theintegrity of various seals throughout the handle module 1501, such asseals engaged with the rotary drive outputs 1512, 1514, seals engagedwith the firing trigger areas 1516, and/or seals engaged with theelectrical contact board 1518 that connects to the DSM, for example. Ifthe various handle module seals are not satisfactory, and the handlemodule does not adequately maintain the vacuum as detected by the vacuumsensors, the inspection station 1500 can issue a warning via its displayindicating that the handle module 1501 needs to be repaired.

In addition to or in lieu of the above, an inspection station could beadapted to dry a handle module following a surgical procedure and/orsterilization procedure as part of preparing the handle module for asubsequent procedure. FIG. 25A illustrates an inspection station 1600that could be used to dry a handle module 1602, for example. Similar tothe above, the inspection station 1600 includes a base portion 1610 and,in addition, an extension 1606 extending from the base portion 1610 thatis positionable in the empty battery cavity of the handle module 1602 inorder to place the handle module 1602 in communication with theinspection station 1600. The inspection station 1600 includes two fans—afirst fan 1604 located at the upper end of the extension 1606—and asecond fan 1608 located at the front of the base portion 1610. The fans1604 and 1608 are electrically powered, such as by an AC power sourcevia a power adapter 1612, for example. The first fan 1604 can be aimedat the internal components of the handle module 1602 through an openingin the battery pack cavity. The upper surface of the extension 1606 caninclude vent openings through which the air blown by the first fan 1604can circulate to the handle module 1602. The second fan 1608 can beaimed at a trigger area 1614 of the handle module 1602 to dry thetrigger area 1614 and the surrounding areas of the handle module 1602.The top, front surface of the base portion 1610 of the inspectionstation 1600 can include vent openings 1616 for the second fan 1608 sothat air blown from the second fan 1608 can be circulated to the triggerarea 1614. The base portion 1610 may also include an air intake for thefans 1604 and 1608, such as an air intake 1618 in the base portion 1610.The inspection station 1600 may also include exhaust vents, such asbilateral exhaust vents 1620 at the bottom of the extension 1606, toallow exhaust to escape from the inspection station 1600. The inspectionstation 1600 could include as many fans, air intakes, and/or airexhausts as deemed necessary.

FIGS. 25B, 25C, and 25D illustrate another exemplary inspection station1600. The base portion 1610 in FIGS. 25B, 25C, and 25D is longerfront-to-back than the base station in FIG. 25A, and the lower front fan1608 in FIGS. 25B, 25C, and 25D is raised above the base portion 1610and angled at the trigger area 1614. The arrangement shown in FIGS. 25B,25C, and 25D also includes a cover (or lid) 1630 that attaches to thebase portion 1610 of the inspection 1600 and that covers and envelopsthe handle module 1602. The cover 1630 may be made of hard, translucentplastic, such as polycarbonate, for example. In one aspect, the fan 1608may be powered by the adapter 1612 for the inspection station 1600, asshown in FIG. 25C. In another aspect, the fan 1608 may have its ownpower adapter 1632, separate from the power adapter 1612 for theinspection station 1600, as shown in FIG. 25D. The upper surface of thecover/lid 1630 may include one or more air exhaust vents 1634, and thecover/lid 1630 may also include air intake vents 1636 near the fan 1608.

FIG. 25E illustrates another arrangement for the inspection station 1600that uses vacuum flow to dry the handle module 1602. In such anarrangement, the cover/lid 1630 may define one or more air intakes 1640(two of which are illustrated in FIG. 25E) and have a vacuum port 1642configured to be placed in communication with a vacuum pump. To dry thehandle module 1602, the vacuum pump is turned on to draw air from theair intakes 1640, across the handle module 1602, and into the vacuumport 1642. Preferably, the vacuum port 1642 is spaced away from the airintakes 1640 to increase the air flow across the handle module 1602. Inthe example of FIG. 25E, the air intakes 1640 are at the bottom of thecover/lid 1630 and the vacuum port 1642 is at the top of the cover/lid1630; however, any suitable arrangement could be utilized.

A handle module, such as handle module 1602, for example, could also betested by a simulated load adapter. In various instances, the handlemodule 1602 can be tested by a load adapter 1650 when the handle module1602 is connected to the inspection station 1600, as shown in theexamples of FIGS. 26A-26D. In other instances, a simulated load adaptercan be configured to test a handle module without a complementinginspection station. In any event, the simulated load adapter 1650 mayinclude a housing 1651 and opposing load motors 1652, 1654 positioned inthe housing 1651. As described in greater detail further below, thefirst load motor 1652 is configured to apply a first test load to afirst drive motor of the handle module 1602 and the second load motor1654 is configured to apply a second test load to a second drive motorof the handle module 1602. The first load motor 1652 is configured todrive a first mating nut 1660 which is operably engageable with acoupler 1656 driven by the first drive motor of the handle module 1602.The second load motor 1654 is configured to drive a second mating nut1662 which is operably engageable with a coupler 1658 driven by thesecond drive motor of the handle module 1602.

The simulated load adapter 1650 may comprise a motor control circuit ona circuit board with at least a processor, memory and a motor controllerfor controlling the load motors 1652, 1654, for example. The motorcontrol circuit may be embodied as one integrated circuit (e.g., a SOC)or a number of discrete integrated circuits or other circuitry. Themotor control circuit may control the motors 1652, 1654 to apply anopposing force, under varying load conditions, to the rotary drivesystems of the handle module 1602. The power drawn by the rotary drivesystems of the handle module 1602 to resist and/or overcome the opposingforces can be monitored by the inspection station 1600 to determinewhether the handle module motor(s) and rotary drive systems arefunctioning properly. In various instances, the first motor 1652 of thesimulated load adapter 1650 can be driven in one direction and the drivemotor of the handle module 1602 can drive the first coupler 1656 in anopposite direction. If the drive motor of the handle module 1602 isunable to resist or overcome the simulated load applied by the firstmotor 1652 of the simulated load adapter 1650, then the simulated loadadapter 1650 can instruct the handle module 1602 that the handle module1602 cannot perform as required. In various instances, the second motor1654 of the simulated load adapter 1650 can be driven in one directionand the drive motor of the handle module 1602 can drive the secondcoupler 1658 in an opposite direction. If the drive motor of the handlemodule 1602 is unable to resist or overcome the simulated load appliedby the second motor 1654 of the simulated load adapter 1650, then thesimulated load adapter 1650 can instruct the handle module 1602 that thehandle module 1602 cannot perform as required. Such an assessment canconstitute one facet of the overall assessment of whether the handlemodule 1602 is suitable for another procedure.

In various instances, further to the above, the simulated load adaptermotor control circuit can vary the load imparted by the simulated loadadapter motors 1652, 1654 on the rotary drive systems of the handlemodule 1600 from (relatively) low to (relatively) high in a way thatsimulates the load that the handle module rotary drive systems areexpected to experience during a surgical procedure. In at least oneinstance, the motor control circuit can be programmed so that it canvary the load profiles of the motors 1652, 1654 based on the type of DSMto be used in an upcoming procedure. For example, using the userinterface 1672 (e.g., the buttons 1670 and/or a touch screen of theinterface 1672), the user could specify the desired simulated loadconditions, such as selecting a pre-programmed simulated load conditioncorresponding to the different available DSMs, for example. Thesimulated load adapter 1650 may have a data contact terminal 1674 thatmates with the data connection terminal of the handle module 1602. Insuch a manner, the user's load profile selection can be uploaded fromthe inspection station processor, to the handle module processor, and tothe motor control circuit of the load simulator 1650. In real-timeand/or after the simulation, the motor control circuit can download tothe handle module processor and/or the inspection station processortime-stamped power readings for the power (e.g., volt-amps) supplied tothe load simulator motors 1652, 1654 during the simulation. Theinspection station processor and/or the handle module processor cancorrelate these readings to time-stamped readings for the power drawn bythe handle module motor(s) to evaluate the efficacy of the handle modulemotor(s) and rotary drive systems.

The simulated load adapter 1650 may be powered by the inspection station1600, for example. As shown in the example of FIG. 26B, electrical powerfrom the inspection station 1600 could be supplied to the simulated loadadapter 1650 via the handle module 1602 and the electrical contact board1674. In the example of FIG. 26C, a separate power cord 1680 extendingfrom the inspection station 1600 to the simulated load adapter 1650 cansupply electrical power directly to the load simulator adapter 1650,bypassing the handle module 1602. In another arrangement, the loadsimulation adapter 1650 could have its own connection to an AC powersource and/or its own battery power supply. In various instances, thecord 1680 can also place the load simulator 1650 in direct signalcommunication with the inspection station 1600.

The simulated load adapter 1650 could also be used to monitor backlashin the handle module gears that are part of the rotary drive systems.When the simulated load adapter 1650 is in a backlash detection mode,the simulated load adapter motor control circuit can cause one or bothof the simulated load motors 1652, 1654 to rotate, and the processors ofeither the inspection system 1600 and/or the handle module 1602 cantrack the rotations by the corresponding rotary drive systems of thehandle module 1602. The difference in rotation between the simulatedload adaptor motors 1652, 1654 and the rotary drive systems of thehandle module 1602 is an indication of the backlash in the respectiverotary drive systems of the handle module 1602, which can diminish thelife of the handle module. In other words, an increase in backlash candecrease the number of uses remaining for the handle module 1602.Accordingly, at each inspection of a handle module 1602, the inspectionstation 1600 and the load simulator 1650 can check the handle module'sbacklash and write the result to the handle module's memory. The handlemodule memory can store and time-stamp the backlash readings. The handleprocessor and/or the inspection station processor can determine arevised end-of-life threshold for the handle module, in terms offirings, for example, based on a model for the effect of backlash on thenumber of remaining uses. A sample model is depicted in FIG. 26E. Dashedline 1690 shows a threshold limit for backlash as a function of thenumber of firings of a handle module. Line 1691 depicts the expectedbacklash for the handle module as a function of use (e.g., firings). Inthis example, the backlash threshold is reached (lines 1690 and 1691intersect) at about 500 firings. Since the backlash measurements can betracked over time (and hence over the number of firings), the handleprocessor and/or the inspection processor can compare the backlashmeasurements, indicated by the diamonds FIG. 26E, to determine that thehandle module backlash is trending to reach the threshold at less than500 firings, in this example about 370 firings. This revised, updatedfiring threshold could be used in assessing the remaining life of thehandle module. For example, if the handle module has been fired 220times, and its revised end-of-life is 370 firings because of backlash,the processor could determine that the handle module has 150 firingsremaining; or if 7 firings per procedure are assumed, then the handlemodule has 21 procedures remaining. The backlash can be tested for eachrotary drive system of the handle module in this manner and the one withthe least remaining life can dictate the overall remaining life of thehandle module.

The above being said, if less backlash than expected is measured, thenthe firings needed to reach the end-of-life threshold of the handlemodule can be revised upwardly, or increased. In fact, the end-of-lifethreshold of a handle module can be increased if any parameter and/or acombination of parameters indicates that the handle module isexperiencing less wear than expected, for example. Correspondingly, theend-of-life threshold of a handle module can be decreased if anyparameter and/or a combination of parameters indicates that the handlemodule is experiencing more wear than expected, for example. Moreover,the various parameter thresholds disclosed herein can be fixed oradaptable. A threshold parameter can be adapted based on intrinsicand/or extrinsic information. For instance, the control system of ahandle module can evaluate patterns or trends in parameter data andadapt a parameter threshold relative to the pattern or trend. In atleast one instance, the control system can establish a baseline fromsensed parameter data and establish a parameter threshold relative tothat baseline. In some instances, the control system of a handle modulecan evaluate patterns or trends in the data obtained for a firstparameter and adjust the threshold of a second parameter based on theevaluation of the first parameter data. In at least one instance, thecontrol system can establish a baseline from sensed data of a firstparameter and establish a threshold for a second parameter relative tothat baseline. Moreover, many thresholds are described herein ascomprising two ranges, i.e., a first range below the threshold and asecond range above the threshold. The threshold itself may be part ofthe first range or the second range, depending on the circumstances.That said, a threshold, as used herein, may comprise three ranges, i.e.,a first range below a minimum value, a second range above a maximumvalue, and a third range between the minimum value and the maximumvalue. If the sensed data for a parameter is in the first range, thecontrol system may take a first action and, if the sensed data for theparameter is in the second range, the control system may take a secondaction, which may or may not be the same as the first action. If thesensed data for the parameter is in the third range, the control systemmay take a third action, which could include no action at all. Theminimum value could be part of the first range or the third range,depending on the circumstances, and the maximum value could be part ofthe third range or the second range, depending on the circumstances. Ifdata is sensed in a first range, in at least one embodiment, the controlsystem may adapt a threshold in one direction and, if the data is sensedin a second range, the control system may adapt the threshold in theopposite direction while, if the data is sensed in a third range, thecontrol system may not adapt the threshold, for example.

In another aspect, as shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, the inspection station1600 could accommodate both a handle module 1602 and one or more DSMs1680, for example. FIG. 27A illustrates such an inspection station 1600by itself; FIG. 27B shows the inspection station 1600 with both thehandle module 1602 and a DSM 1680 connected thereto. The inspectionstation processor may be in communication with the handle moduleprocessor and/or the DSM processor in order to download and upload dataand information. As shown in FIG. 27A, an inspection station 1600 thatalso supports DSMs may include rotary drives 1682, 1684, configured likethe rotary drives 1656, 1658 of the handle module 1600. The inspectionstation 1600 may actuate the inspection station rotary drives 1682, 1684to test the drive systems of the DSM 1680. In yet other arrangements,the DSM 1680 may have its own inspection station for performing thevarious tests and/or data transfers, for example.

In view of the above, an inspection station 1600 could be used toperform a number of pre-procedure and/or post-procedure instrumentprocessing tasks for a handle module and/or a DSM, such as, for example:

-   -   Determine and display a device ID (e.g., serial number) and/or        model, and the state of the device (e.g., end-of-life, locked        out, etc.);    -   Read/download data from the memory of the handle module 1602,        such as the number of firings/cycles, performance parameters,        handle and/or DSM software versions;    -   Based on the device identification, set and upload the operation        instructions and criteria for the handle module and/or DSM,        which the inspection station can retrieve from memory based on        the device ID;    -   Perform various electronic tests, such as modular connection        integrity tests, memory version tests, system electronic checks,        transfer rate (read/write) checks, scheduled maintenance checks,        warranty expiration checks, end-of-life checks, system lockout        checks, and/or internal battery life conditioning tests;    -   Perform various physical tests, such motor performance tests        (with and/or without simulated loads as described above), seal        integrity tests, etc.;    -   Performance testing, such as comparing actual data from a        procedure (downloaded from the handle module and/or DSM memory)        to expected procedure data;    -   Reset lockouts in the handle module where necessary;    -   Dry the device;    -   Inform users (e.g., via the display) that the device (handle        module and/or DSM) is or is not suitable for continued use;    -   Upgrade software of the handle module and/or DSM;    -   Write test results to the handle module memory and/or DSM        memory; and/or    -   Transmit handle and/or DSM performance and usage data to a        remote computer system, via a USB or wireless (e.g., WiFi)        connection, for example.        The inspection station memory may store software and/or firmware        that the inspection station processor executes to perform these        various functions.

The displays of the inspection station and/or the handle module may alsomake maintenance and servicing recommendations based on the varioususage related data for the handle module. Based on usage data such asthe number of procedures, the number of sterilizations, the numberand/or intensity of firings, and/or the gear backlash, for example, theinspection station and/or handle module processors can determine whethervarious maintenance or servicing tasks should be undertaken orrecommended with respect to the handle module and/or the DSM, andcommunicate those recommendations to a user via the displays of eitherthe inspection station and/or the handle module. The maintenance andservicing recommendations could be performed and communicated to theuser following a completed procedure, during a procedure, and/or at thebeginning of a procedure.

FIGS. 28A-28B are exemplary process flows for making maintenance and/orservice recommendations that could be performed by the handle moduleprocessor and/or the inspection station processor by executing firmwareand/or software in the processors' associated memory. FIG. 28Aillustrates an exemplary process flow for the inspection stationprocessor 442. At step 1800, following a procedure, the handle module isconnected to the inspection station (see FIG. 19A, for example),whereupon usage and performance data from the handle module memory isdownloaded to the inspection station. This data may include a count ofthe number of procedures for the handle module; various ways to countthe number of procedures are described herein. The data may also includethe number of firings by the handle module, the intensity (e.g., force)for each firing, the firing force differential between the expectedfiring force and the actual firing force, the (accumulated) energy spentby the handle module over the life of the handle module, and/or the gearbacklash, for example.

At step 1802, based on the data, the inspection station processordetermines whether service of the handle module is needed. Theinspection station processor may parse the usage and performance datamultiple ways as programmed to determine if service is needed, and maymake one or several service recommendations at step 1804 if it isdetermined that service is required. The service recommendations couldbe as extensive as suggesting that the handle module be rebuilt, or asminor as lubricating certain parts, for example. Also, for example, oneservice check that the inspection station processor may perform at step1802 is that for every N₁ procedures and/or every S₁ firings, or somecombination of procedures and firings (e.g., N₂ procedures and S₂firings), the handle module should be rebuilt. In such a case, if theinspection station processor determines that any of those thresholds hasbeen met, at step 1804 the inspection station processor may control theinspection station display to show that the handle module should berebuilt. Another service check that the inspection station processor mayperform at step 1802 is that at every S₃ firings, the rotary drivesystems' gears should be lubricated. Other service checks that theinspection station can perform and recommend if appropriate include:electrical integrity checks for electrical contacts of the handlemodule; testing of the communication system; extended diagnostics ofelectronics of the handle module (e.g., RAM and/or ROM integrity,processor operation, idle and operating current draw, operatingtemperatures of selected components, etc.); operation of indicators,displays and sensors; and/or battery issues, such as cycling, balancingand/or testing, for example. Service checks can be performed on abattery to evaluate the condition of the battery. For instance, theinspection station can assess whether the battery is nearing the end ofits life, if rechargeable, or nearing a threshold for less than onefiring remaining for a disposable battery, for example. Yet otherservices checks include firing the device (in a diagnostics mode orother mode that permits firing without a DSM or cartridge) to monitorabnormalities in a motor parameter (such as voltage or current, etc.). Adamaged gear can cause a change in motor load, detectable through themonitored motor parameters, that can indicate an internal problemrequiring replacement. Also, a generally higher motor load can indicatea need for cleaning or lubrication, or damage within the device.

At step 1806 the inspection station processor may determine whether anycomponents of the handle module need to be checked. As before, theinspection station processor may parse the usage and performance datamultiple ways as programmed to determine if the checking of varioushandle module components is needed, and may make one or severalcomponent check recommendations at step 1808 if it is determined thatcomponent checking is required. For example, if the inspection stationprocessor determines that the gear backlash is beyond a pre-establishedthreshold at step 1806, the inspection station processor may display asuggestion at step 1808 that the gears of the rotary drive systemsshould be checked. Also, if the inspection station processor determinesthat the accumulated energy spent by the handle module is beyond apre-established threshold at step 1806, the inspection station processormay display a suggestion at step 1808 that the motor(s) and/or the gearsof the rotary drive systems should be checked. Similarly, if theinspection station processor determines that a threshold number offirings (in the most-recently completed procedure and/or during the lifeof the handle module) exceed a pre-established intensity threshold(e.g., force or electric power) at step 1806, the inspection stationprocessor may display a suggestion at step 1808 that the motor(s) and/orthe gears of the rotary drive systems should be checked. The inspectionstation processor, via the display, could also recommend that the DSM bechecked in various embodiments. For example, if the inspection stationprocessor determines that a threshold number of firings in themost-recently completed procedure exceed a pre-established intensitythreshold at step 1806, the inspection station processor may display asuggestion at step 1808 that the sharpness of the cutting instrument inthe end effector should be checked, since a dull cutting instrument maynecessitate greater force to execute a cutting stroke.

The handle module processor may also make service and/or componentchecking determinations and recommendations. FIG. 28B illustrates anexemplary process flow for the handle module processor 2124. The processof FIG. 28B is similar to that of FIG. 28A, except that, at step 1801,the handle module processor stores usage and performance data from itsprocedures and post-procedure processing so that it can make thedeterminations at step 1802 and 1806 about whether service and/orcomponent checking is required. The recommendations and suggestionsdisplayed at steps 1804 and 1808 may be on the handle module's displayand/or, in the case when the handle module is connected to theinspection station and there is a data connection therebetween, thehandle module processor may communicate the recommendations to theinspection station processor so that the inspection station display candisplay the recommendations, in lieu of or in addition to displayingthem on the handle module display.

As shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, a DSM 1680 could also be connected to aninspection station 1600. In such an arrangement, the DSM processorand/or the inspection station processor may make service and componentchecking determinations and recommendations based on usage andperformance data stored in the DSM memory.

To that end, FIG. 35 is a flow chart illustrating steps that can beperformed with the inspection stations described herein. At step 2200, aclinician performs a surgical procedure with the surgical instrumentcomprising the handle module and one of the DSMs. As described herein,the handle module memory can store usage and procedure data fromthroughout the procedure, such as motor energy and power levels, motortorque, and/or time stamps for actuation of various triggers, forexample. Following the procedure, at step 2202, the clinician candisconnect the DSM from the handle module and remove the removablebattery pack so that the handle module can be prepared for use in asubsequent procedure by, at step 2204, connecting the handle module tothe inspection station as shown herein, for example. At step 2206, theinspection station can download (or read) the procedure and usage datafrom the memory of the handle module. The inspection station can alsodownload the identification data for the handle module, which theinspection station processor can use to determine the handle module typeand/or configuration at step 2208, which the inspection station candisplay on its display.

At step 2210, the inspection station can set the inspection programs andinspection criteria for the handle module based on its type andconfiguration. For example, the inspection station memory may store theinspection programs that should be performed for each handle module typeand configuration, as well as the criteria for the inspections. Based onthe handle module type and configuration ID resolved by the inspectionstation at step 2208, the inspection station can call and/or set theappropriate inspection programs and inspection criteria to be used forthe handle module. For example, at step 2212, the inspection module candry components of the handle module, such as described herein inconjunction with FIGS. 25A-25E, for example. Also, at step 2214 the sealintegrity tests can be performed, such as described herein inconjunction with FIGS. 24A-24B, for example. At step 2216, electronicintegrity tests for the handle module can be performed. These tests caninclude testing that electrical connections exist between theappropriate components, and for data processing components of the handlemodule, that the protocols and connections for transmitting data arefunctioning. At step 2218, functional and/or physical tests of thehandle module can be performed. For example, the motor(s) and/or therotary drive systems can be tested (e.g., driven) to make sure that theyare functioning properly. At step 2220, the handle module lockouts thatneed to be reset following a procedure can be reset. At step 2222,further necessary conditioning for the handle module can be performed.This conditioning can include any other conditioning necessary toprepare the handle module for a subsequent surgical procedure, and/orperformance of any service recommendations identified by the inspectionstation. At step 2224, the handle module can be released from theinspection station, whereupon it can be used in a subsequent surgicalprocedure (or sterilized before using in a subsequent procedure). Theinspection station may “release” the handle module by indicating on thedisplay of the inspection station that it can be removed, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, a DSM could also be connected to such aninspection station following its use in a surgical procedure in order toinspect the DSM. A similar process to that illustrated in FIG. 35 can beused for the DSM connected to the inspection station to prepare the DSMfor a subsequent procedure.

Various steps illustrated in FIG. 35 can be performed in differentorders or simultaneously and the steps illustrated in FIG. 35 do notnecessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated in FIG. 35,although they could be. For example, the electronic integrity tests(step 2216) could be performed before the seal integrity test (step2214), etc.

FIGS. 36 and 37 are flow charts illustrating exemplary steps involved insterilizing a handle module and tracking the number of times it isused/sterilized. In FIG. 36, the process starts at step 2300 where thehandle module (and a DSM) are used in a surgical procedure. After theprocedure, at step 2302, a post-op clean-up of the handle module can beperformed, which can entail a manual wipe down of the handle module, forexample. Thereafter, at step 2304, the handle module can bedecontaminated, such as with an auto-washer, for example. At step 2306,the handle module can be dried in a clean room, using heat and/or air,for example. At step 2308, the handle module can be connected to aninspection station, such as the inspection stations described herein inconnection with FIGS. 12A-12C, 19A, 25A-25E, 26A-26C, and/or 27A-27B,for example.

At step 2310, the inspection station can query or interrogate the handlemodule to determine if the sterilization switch (e.g., switch 344, seeFIGS. 11E-11I) was activated or otherwise in the state that indicatesits prior placement in a sterilization tray, such as shown above inFIGS. 11E-11I. If the sterilization tray switch is in the triggered oractuated state, at step 2311 the sterilization count is increased andthe switch state reset. Then, at step 2312, the inspection station candetermine whether the threshold sterilization count for the handlemodule has been reached, as described herein. If the sterilization counthas been reached, at step 2314, any of the herein-described end-of-lifeactions for the handle module can be taken.

Conversely, if the threshold has not yet been reached, the process canadvance to step 2316 where the handle module is prepared forsterilization, such as by placing the handle module in its correspondingsterilization tray (see FIGS. 11E-11I, for example) and/or placing thesterilization covers on it (see FIGS. 20A-20D, for example), which ineither case can activate the sterilization trigger at step 2318. Thehandle module can be sterilized at step 2320, whereupon it can be storedand subsequently transported to an operating room at step 2322 for usein a subsequent procedure at step 2300.

Returning to step 2310, if the sterilization trigger is not activated orits status changed, the handle module may have to be physicallyinspected at step 2324.

The exemplary process flow of FIG. 37 is similar to that of FIG. 36,except that following the procedure at step 2300, the handle module canbe powered back on to determine if its sterilization state flag (set byhandle module processor when the switch 344 is activated, see FIGS.11E-11I) is set at step 2310. If so, at step 2311 the sterilizationcount can be updated and the sterilization state reset.

As mentioned above, the handle module battery pack may be removed fromthe handle module following a surgical procedure so that it can be usedin the same or another, similarly-configured handle module in asubsequent procedure, typically after recharging. FIGS. 29A-D illustratea charging station 1700 for recharging battery packs 1702. The batterypacks 1702 are inserted into receptacles 1704 defined in the chargingstation 1700, shown in the side-views of FIGS. 29B and 29C, such that,when the battery packs 1702 are inserted, their respective powerterminals 1706 contact corresponding charge terminals 1708 at the bottomof the receptacles 1704 to charge the respective battery packs 1702. Theillustrated charging station 1700 can simultaneously charge two batterypacks, although in other arrangements a charging station could havereceptacles for storing and charging more or fewer battery packs.

The charging station 1700 may include a display 1709 that displays thestatus of the battery packs 1702 in terms of the charging process, suchas currently charging or charged/ready to use, for example. For batterypacks currently charging, the display may show how far along thecharging process is and/or how far there is to go. Text and/or graphicsmay be used to indicate the charging status, such as a volume and/orother type of fractional indicator that indicates how charged thebattery pack is (e.g., 40% charged, 50% charged, etc.).

As shown in FIGS. 29B and 29C, the receptacle 1704 may be sized so thatthe end portion of the battery pack 1702 that is inserted into thereceptacle fits in easily (e.g., a zero insertion force connection). Thecharging station 1700 may include means for detecting when the batterypack 1702 is inserted into the receptacle. For example, as shown in theblock diagram of FIG. 29D, the charging station 1700 may include apressure switch 1720, in communication with the charging stationprocessor 1722, at the bottom of the receptacle 1704 that is actuatedwhen the battery pack 1702 is inserted. Additionally or alternatively,the charging station processor 1722 may detect the insertion of abattery back 1702 when a charging station data terminal 1712 makes adata connection with the battery pack data terminal 1710. In any case,when the battery pack 1702 is inserted into the receptacle 1704 of thecharging station 1700 for charging, the charging station 1700 maytemporarily secure the battery pack 1702 to the charging station 1700 sothat the battery pack 1702 cannot be removed prematurely (e.g., prior tocharging and/or a complete charging). In one arrangement, as shown inFIGS. 29B and 29C, this is accomplished by a screw 1724 at the bottom ofthe receptacle 1704 of the charging station 1700 that automaticallyscrews into a corresponding opening 1726 in the bottom of the batterypack 1702 that is sized and threaded for receiving the screw 1724.

FIG. 29D is a simplified block diagram of the charging station 1700 anda battery pack 1702 according to various arrangements. Assuming thecharging station 1700 is powered by an AC power source, the chargingstation 1700 may include an AC/DC converter 1730 to convert the ACvoltage into DC voltage and a voltage regulator 1732 for converting theDC voltage to the desired charging voltage and/or current for chargingthe battery cells 1734 of the battery pack 1702. The charging station1700 may include a charging controller circuit 1736 for controlling thevoltage regulator 1732 based on sensed parameters of the chargingoperation, such as current, voltage and/or temperature, which can besensed by the sensing circuit 1738 of the charging station 1700. Forexample, when charging a battery pack 1702 under normal chargingconditions, the charging controller circuit 1736 may control the voltageregulator 1732 to charge at a constant current until the Li-ion or LiPobattery cells 1734 reach a specified voltage per cell (Vpc). Then thecharging controller circuit 1736 can hold the cells at that Vpc untilthe charge current drops to X % of the initial charge rate (e.g., 10%),at which point the charging process can terminate. Other chargingregimens, appropriate to the battery technology, can be performed.

The pressure switch 1720 may detect the insertion of the battery pack1702 into the receptacle 1704 of the charging station 1700 and, whenactivated, send a signal to the charging station processor 1722. Thecharging station processor 1722 may send in response a control signal toa connection actuator 1740, such as a linear actuator, that drives thescrew 1724 into the battery pack screw opening 1726. The connectionactuator 1740 may be powered by a second voltage regulator 1742 that canpower, in addition to the connection actuator 1740, the other electroniccomponents of the charging station 1700.

Further to the above, the battery pack 1702 may include a data terminal1710 that, when the battery pack 1702 is inserted into the receptacle1704, mates with a corresponding data terminal 1712 of the chargingstation 1700. The charging station processor 1722 may have internal orexternal memory 1744 that stores firmware and/or software to be executedby the charging station processor 1722. By executing the firmware and/orsoftware, the charging station processor 1722 can (i) control thedisplay 1709, (ii) control aspects of the battery cell charging processby communicating with the charging controller 1736, and/or (iii)exchange data with the battery pack processor 1750 via the dataterminals 1710, 1712. As described herein, the battery pack electronicsmay also include memory 1752 that stores firmware and/or software to beexecuted by the battery pack processor 1750, such as a batterymanagement system (BMS). The battery pack 1702 may also comprise sensors1754 for sensing conditions related to the battery pack 1702, such asmoisture and/or humidity, for example, as described above. The dataterminal 1712 of the charging station 1700 may also supply low-levelpower to the battery pack processor 1750. The charging station 1700 mayalso include a wireless module 1755 in communication with the processor1722 that can communicate with remote devices via wireless communicationlinks (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, etc.). As such, the charging station1700 could communicate wirelessly to remote computing systems (e.g.,servers, desktops, tablet computer, laptops, smartphones, etc.) thecharge status and other data regarding the battery packs 1702 installedin the charging station 1700 (e.g., impending end-of-life, temperature).The charging station could also include a port for a wired connection(e.g., USB-type port) so that charge status and other data regarding thebattery packs 1702 can be downloaded from the charging station 1700 tothe connected device. That way, the surgical staff and/or the batterypack supplier can receive such information.

In one aspect, to extend battery run time as well as battery life, forexample, the battery cells comprising the battery pack 1702 may berebalanced from time to time during the life of the battery pack 1702.FIG. 29E is a diagram of a process flow that can be performed by thecharging station processor 1722 (by executing firmware/software storedin the memory 1744) to rebalance the battery cells. At step 1760, thecharging station processor 1722 can detect the insertion of a batterypack 1702 into the inspection station 1700 for charging based on, forexample, the signal from the pressure switch 1720 in the receptacle 1704and/or by some other suitable means. At step 1762, the charging stationprocessor 1722 can actuate the connection actuator 1740 to temporarilysecure the battery pack 1702 to the charging station 1700 during thecharging (and/or discharging) session. At step 1764, the chargingstation processor 1722 can exchange data with the battery pack processor1750. Among other things, the battery pack processor 1750 can exchange alog of the times the battery pack 1702 has been charged and the timesthat its cells were balanced. At step 1765, the charging station 1700can quickly top-off the charge of the battery cells in case the batterypack is needed before a complete charging or discharging cycle can beperformed. The top-off charge at step 1765 could be, for example, tomerely charge the battery cells at a constant current to bring them tothe specified Vpc level or a fraction thereof. At step 1766, thecharging station processor 1722 can determine whether the battery cellsshould be balanced again. In various aspects, the cells may be balancedevery Ntimes they are charged, where N is an integer greater than orequal to one, and preferably greater than one. If it is not time torebalance the cells, the process advances to step 1768 where the batterycells are recharged and at step 1770 released for use, such as byde-actuating the connection actuator 1740 so that the battery pack 1702can be removed from the receptacle. On the other hand, at step 1766, ifit is determined that the battery cells need to be rebalanced, theprocess can advance to step 1772 where the cells are discharged beforebeing charged at step 1768. The cells may be discharged at step 1772 toa suitable (low) voltage level

As shown in FIG. 29A, the charging station 1700 may include an emergencyrelease button 1780 for each battery pack charging receptacle, or justone emergency release button 1780 that releases only the battery pack1702 that presently has the most charge (and thus most suitable foremergency use). In various aspects, the charging station processor 1722may initiate one or many actions when the emergency release button 1780is depressed for a particular battery pack 1702 when charging of thatbattery pack is in process. For example, the charging station processor1722 can signal the connection actuator 1740 to unscrew the battery pack1702 so that it can be removed. Also, before such mechanical release ofthe battery pack 1702, the charging station processor 1722 can instructthe charging controller to take action to expedite rapid charging of thebattery pack 1702. For example, the charging station processor 1722 caninstruct the charging controller 1736 to use a charging profile thatmore rapidly charges the battery cells 1734 for a brief time period,even though such rapid, short-term charging may not fully charge thebattery cells to their capacity or promote longevity of the batterycells. Common charge profile stages for charging Li-ion battery cellsinclude (i) trickle charge, (ii) constant current charge, and (iii)constant voltage charge. The charging controller circuit 1736 can switchto one of these profiles (e.g., constant current charge) in the shortduration to provide the battery pack 1702 with as much additional chargeas possible in the short time period. Also, the charging stationprocessor 1722 can coordinate increasing the charging voltage availablefor charging the battery cells by making other power sources availablefor charging, such as from other receptacles and/or charge storingdevices (e.g., supercapacitors or battery cells) in the charging station1700. Data about such charging procedures can also be logged in thebattery pack memory.

FIG. 30A illustrates another exemplary charging/dischargingdetermination process that the charging station processor 1722 mayundertake, in addition to or in lieu of the process shown in FIG. 29E.The process of FIG. 30A recognizes that discharging of surgicalinstrument battery packs often is beneficial to their longevity, butthat the battery packs should not be discharged if there is insufficienttime to discharge them before they will be needed in a surgicalprocedure. The process of FIG. 30A starts at step 1780 where a “first”rechargeable battery pack is inserted into one of the chargingreceptacles 1704 of the charging station 1700. At step 1782, batterypack usage data from the first battery pack is downloaded to thecharging station memory, which may include the current remaining batterycapacity. Although not shown in FIG. 30A, the first battery pack couldalso be secured to the charging station when it is inserted (see FIGS.29B-29C, for example). At step 1784, the charging station 1700 mayimmediately charge the first battery pack in case it might be needed ina currently ongoing or imminent procedure. At step 1786, data about thecharging of the first battery pack at step 1784 is written to the memoryof the first battery pack. This data can include, for example, timestamps for the beginning and ending of the charging step, as well as thestarting and ending battery capacity.

At step 1788, the charging station processor checks thecharging/discharging log for the first battery pack and, if the firstbattery pack was fully discharged since the last procedure, the processadvances to step 1790 where the first battery pack is ready for use in aprocedure. At this step, the charging station display may indicate thatthe first battery pack is ready for use. On the other hand, if at step1788 it is determined that the first battery pack has not been fullydischarged since its last procedure, the process may advance to step1792 where the charging station processor can determine if there is atleast one other fully charged battery pack in its charging receptacles.If so, at step 1794 the first battery pack can be fully discharged toprolong its longevity and because there is another fully charged batterypack ready for use if needed. Once the discharge of the first batterypack is complete, at step 1796 the discharging data (e.g., beginning andending time-stamps, beginning and end capacities) can be written to thefirst battery pack memory so that the evaluation at step 1788 can beperformed. Thereafter, the process can advance to step 1784 where thebattery cells of the first battery pack are recharged, and the processrepeats. If the first battery pack was discharged at step 1794 since thelast procedure, from step 1788 the process will advance to step 1790because another discharge of the battery cells is not required.

Modifications to the process of FIG. 30A can be made. For example, theinitial charging step 1784 could be eliminated and/or moved betweensteps 1788 and 1790 and/or between steps 1792 and 1790, for example.

FIG. 30B illustrates another exemplary charging/dischargingdetermination process that the charging station processor 1722 mayundertake. The process of FIG. 30B is similar to that of FIG. 30A,except that at step 1783, following step 1782, the charging station 1700can perform a quick charge top-off of the battery pack (e.g., shortcharge to less than full capacity) and record data about the top-offcharging in the battery pack memory. Then at step 1788, as in FIG. 30A,the charging station processor can determine if the battery pack wasdischarged fully since the last procedure and, if so, at step 1789, thenperform a full charging of the battery pack, at which point the batterypack is ready for use (block 1790). On the other hand, at step 1788, ifthe charging station processor determines that the battery pack was notfully discharged since the last procedure, the process can advance tostep 1792 where the charging station determines if another battery packis currently inserted in one of its receptacles 1704 is ready for use(e.g., adequately or fully charged). If not, the first battery pack canbe fully charged at step 1789. However, if another battery pack isadequately or fully charged and ready for use, at step 1794 the firstbattery pack can be discharged (with data about the discharge beingstored in the battery pack memory). After full discharge, the processcan advance to step 1789 so that the first battery pack can then becharged.

In various embodiments, the charging station processor 1722 can monitorand store the times at which the various battery cells are inserted intoit, as indications of when procedures are being performed by thehospital or surgical unit in which the charging station is located. Thecharging station processor 1722 can be programmed to determine times ofthe day when the hospital or surgical unit is typically performingprocedures involving instruments that utilize such battery packs andwhen it is not. In particular, the charging station processor 1722 candetermine a statistical likelihood that the hospital or surgical unit isperforming a procedure involving instruments that utilize such batterypacks for non-overlapping time increments that span a 24-hour period,such as one-hour increments, for example. Thus, for the full charging ofthe battery packs (e.g., at step 1789 of FIG. 30B), the charging stationcan commence such full charging steps at times when there is a lowlikelihood of an ongoing procedure, especially in instances where thereis an already another fully charged battery pack ready for use. That is,for example, in FIG. 30B, the full charging at step 1789 followingdischarging at step 1792 need not immediately follow the discharging atstep 1792 but could instead be scheduled for a time that there is a lowlikelihood of an ongoing procedure, as determined and scheduled by thecharging station processor 1722. Further, the personnel at the hospitalor surgical unit can input to the charging station 1700, via the userinterface 1709, for example, data about when procedures are to beperformed and/or the types of procedures (or the amount of charge neededfor the procedures) that are to be performed. This data can be stored inthe charging station memory 1744 and used by the charging stationprocessor 1722 to determine when to charge the battery packs.

In a system that charges and discharges batteries, there can be asignificant amount of energy wasted in dumping the power from thecell(s) under maintenance in the form of heat because typically thecharge on a battery cell to be discharged is drained through a resistiveload. Accordingly, the charging station may include fans and/or heatsinks to help dissipate heat. In other aspects, the charging station mayuse the charge on a cell to be discharged to charge another cell in thecharging station or store it in another charge storing device. FIG. 31is a simplified diagram of a circuit 1900 for discharging battery cellsin such a manner. When charging the “first” battery cell 1902, the powersource/voltage regulator 1904 is connected to the first battery cell1902 by closing switch S1, with all other switches (S2, S3, S4 and S5)being open. To discharge the first battery cell 1902 through theresistor 1906, switches S2 and S3 are closed and switches S1, S4 and S5are open. The diode 1903 controls the direction in which current flowsfrom the first battery cell 1902. To discharge the first battery cell1902 to the energy storage device 1908 (e.g., supercapacitor or anotherbattery cell internal to the charging station and not ordinarily for usein a surgical instrument), switch S2 is closed and the rest of theswitches S1, S3, S4 and S5 are open. The diode 1903 controls thedirection in which current flows to the energy storage device 1908. Tocharge the first battery cell 1902 with the charge on the energy storagedevice 1908, switch 55 is closed and the rest of the switches S1, S2,S3, and S4 are open. The diode 1905 controls the direction in whichcurrent flows to the first battery cell 1902. To charge another batterycell 1910 with the first battery cell 1902, switches S2 and S4 areclosed and switches S1, S3 and S5 are open. The switches S1, S2, S3, S4and S5 can be controlled by the charging station processor 1722 and/orthe charging controller 1736.

FIG. 32 shows a circuit for charging and discharging the first batterypack 1902 that is similar to that of FIG. 31, except that theconfiguration of FIG. 32 includes a set of battery cells 1920 that canbe used to charge the first battery cell 1902. In the illustratedarrangement, the set 1920 includes three battery cells 1922, 1924, 1926,although in other arrangements the set 1920 may include more or lessbattery cells. The battery cells 1922, 1924, and 1926 in the set 1920may be internal battery cells of the charging station and/or otherbattery packs inserted into the charging station. The cells 1922, 1924,1926 in the set 1920 may be used, for example, to rapidly charge thefirst battery pack 1902, such as in a situation where a replacementbattery pack is needed in an ongoing procedure. In the illustratedarrangement, the cells 1922, 1924, 1926 in the set 1920 may be connectedin series or in parallel to provide increased voltage (when connected inseries) or increased current (when connected in parallel). To connectthe cells 1922, 1924, 1926 in series, the switches S7 are closed and theswitches S6 are open. To connect the cells 1922, 1924, 1926 in parallel,the switches S6 are closed and the switches S7 are open. Each cell mayhave an associated resistor R1, R2, R3 respectively, for example, toprovide a current source when connected in parallel.

In one aspect, referring back to FIG. 29A, if a clinician is in themidst of a procedure and needs a new battery pack to complete theprocedure, the clinician (or his/her assistant) can select and removefrom the charging station 1700 one of the battery packs that is fullycharged and ready for use, which may be indicated on the display 1709 ofthe charging station 1700. If none of the battery packs 1702 isindicated as ready for use, the clinician can press the emergencyrelease button 1780, for example, which may release the battery pack1702 currently in the charging station 1700 that has the most charge atthe moment, as determined by the charging controller 1736 and/or thecharging station processor 1722, so that the partially-charged batterypack can be inserted into the handle module currently being used in theprocedure. The charging station 1700 may also include visual indicatorsto indicate which battery pack 1702 is being released in the emergencyso that it is clear which battery pack should be removed from thecharging station for insertion into the surgical instrument. Forcharging stations 1700 that include means for securing the battery pack1702 to the charging station 1700 during charging, such as the screw1724 in the arrangement of FIGS. 29A-29C, activation of the emergencyrelease button 1780 can cause the connection means to disconnect (orunsecure) the appropriate battery pack 1702, as described herein. Atabout the same time, the charging station 1722 can take steps to rapidlycharge the selected battery pack 1702 for a short time period,preferably to give it at least enough charge to complete one or a coupleof firings. As described herein, the charging station processor 1722may, in conjunction with the charging controller circuit 1736, changethe charging profile (e.g., constant current or constant voltagecharge), charge the battery pack with a supercapacitor(s) 1908, and/orcharge the battery pack with one or more other battery cells (whichcould be connected in series or in parallel, as described herein). Invarious arrangements, the battery pack 1702 is not released (e.g., bydisconnecting the screw 1724) until the short-term charging charges thebattery pack 1702 to a charge level to a threshold charge that issufficient to complete one or a couple of firings.

In various aspects, the charging station may also be configured to easethe proper placement of the battery packs into the charging station forcharging and/or to enhance the engagement between the electricalcontacts between the battery pack and the charge terminals of thecharging station to thereby increase the efficiency of the chargingprocess. For example, the wells (or receptacles) in the charging stationcan have multiple sets of terminals so that no matter which way thebattery pack is inserted into the well/receptacle, the battery pack'scharging terminals contact one set of charging terminals of the chargingstation. FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate top views of a battery pack 2000and a charging station 2002, respectively, wherein the battery pack 2000has a square cross-sectional shape and the wells/receptacles 2004 of thecharging station 2002 are sized to the receive such asquare-cross-sectional battery pack 2000. The illustrated chargingstation 2002 has two wells/receptacles 2004, but in other arrangementsthe charging station 2002 can have one well/receptacle or more than twowells/receptacles. As shown in FIG. 33A, the battery pack 2000 has apositive terminal 2006 and a negative terminal 2008 that the chargingstation terminals contact in order to charge the battery packs. In theillustrated arrangement, the terminals 2006, 2008 are not centered onthe top of the battery pack 2000. Because such a battery pack 2000 couldbe inserted into one of square-shaped wells/receptacles 2004 in one offour configurations (each 90 degree turn, and assuming the side of thebattery pack 2000 with the terminals 2006-2008 is always face-down),each well/receptacle can have four pairs of charging terminals 2010positioned in it so that, no matter which way the battery pack 2000 isturned when it is inserted into the well/receptacle 2004, the off-centerbattery pack terminals 2006-2008 will make contact with one of thecharging station terminal pairs 2010. Each charging station terminalpair 2010 is connected to the charging circuitry of the chargingstation, but only the one pair 2010 that contacts the battery packterminals 2006-2008 will have a completed circuit so that chargingcurrent can flow to the battery pack 2000. In another arrangement, asshown in FIGS. 34A and 34B, one of the battery pack terminals could bein the center of the battery pack 2000. In the illustrated case, thenegative terminal 2008 is in the center with the positive terminal 2006to one side; however, the opposite arrangement could be utilized inanother embodiment. The wells/receptacle of the charging station couldcorrespondingly have one terminal 2014 in the center for contacting thenegative terminal 2008 of the battery pack 2000, and four terminals 2016on each side of the center terminal 2014 for contacting the positiveterminal 2006 no matter which way the battery pack 2000 is inserted intothe well/receptacle. For battery packs that have other geometries, theremay need to be a fewer or greater number of terminal pairs in thewell/receptacles (such as two pairs for a rectangular battery pack).

As discussed above, a surgical instrument can include a battery assemblycapable of being attached to and/or detached from the surgicalinstrument. Such handling of the battery assembly can increase thechances of damaging the battery assembly. For example, the batteryassembly may be inadvertently dropped while assembling the batteryassembly to the surgical instrument and/or transporting the batteryassembly to a charging station. Discussed in greater detail furtherbelow, the battery assembly can be configured to protect the housing,battery cells, and/or power supply circuit of the battery assembly inthe event that the battery assembly is inadvertently dropped.

Referring now to FIG. 38, a battery assembly, such as battery assembly5000, for example, can comprise a battery housing 5010 and a pluralityof internal components 5030 including at least one battery cell 5031and/or a power supply circuit positioned within the battery housing5010. The at least one battery cell 5031 may comprise a lithium-ionbattery, for example. The battery assembly 5000 also comprises one ormore electrical contacts 5011 configured to transmit electrical energyprovided by the at least one battery cell 5031 to the surgicalinstrument. The battery assembly 5000 further comprises one or morealignment features 5012 configured to assist a user in properlyassembling the battery assembly 5000 to the surgical instrument. Thealignment features 5012 comprise slots, for example, which are alignablewith projections extending from the surgical instrument. The alignmentfeatures 5012 are symmetrically arranged around the perimeter of thebattery housing 5010. Although not illustrated, other embodiments areenvisioned in which the alignment features 5012 comprise anon-symmetrical configuration permitting the battery assembly 5000 to beattached to the surgical instrument in only one orientation. The batteryassembly 5000 further comprises a lock mechanism 5040 configured tosecure the battery assembly 5000 to the surgical instrument during use.When the battery assembly 5000 is attached the surgical instrument, thebattery assembly 5000 can transmit electrical energy to electricalreceiving contacts of the surgical instrument.

The battery housing 5010 can act as a container configured to house theinternal components 5030 and/or act as a support structure configured tosupport various components thereon. Functioning as a container and/or asupport structure, the battery housing 5010 may be rigid in order tosupport the internal components 5030 positioned therein. The batteryhousing 5010 may be comprised of a plastic material, for example. Incertain instances, the inner housing 5010 is comprised of an elastomericmaterial, for example. Referring again to FIG. 38, the battery housing5010 comprises a top face, a bottom face 5016, a plurality of lateralfaces 5015, and a plurality of corners 5014. The bottom face 5016 can beassociated with the electrical contacts 5011. The lateral faces 5015 andthe corners 5014 are configured to surround the internal components5030.

Various embodiments discussed herein relate to the protection of abattery assembly for use with a surgical instrument. Referring again toFIG. 38, the battery assembly 5000 comprises a radial and/or verticalreinforcement configured to protect the battery housing 5010, theinternal components 5030, and/or the electrical contacts 5011. Theradial and/or vertical reinforcement may comprise a shock absorbinglayer, for example. In various instances, the shock absorbing layer maysurround the battery housing 5010 in order to absorb an impact forcethat is applied to a lateral face 5015, the bottom face 5016, and/or acorner 5014 of the battery housing 5010. In addition to or in lieu ofthe above, a shock absorbing layer is housed within the battery housing5010. Also, in addition to or in lieu of the above, the battery assembly5000 may further comprise an outer housing for added protection. Theouter housing can be configured to house the battery housing 5010 andthe shock absorbing layer.

One means for protecting the battery assembly 5000 is illustrated indetail in FIG. 38A, for example, comprising a battery housing, or innerhousing 5010, and a shock absorbing layer 5020. As discussed above, thehousing 5010 may be comprised of a rigid material which can support theinternal components 5030 of the battery assembly 5000. The shockabsorbing layer 5020 may contain a lattice structure 5022 comprising aplurality of cells 5024. The cells 5024 can lower the density of theshock absorbing layer 5020. The cells 5024 can have an open cellularstructure and/or a closed cellular structure. Moreover, the latticestructure 5022 can comprise one or more lattice layers. For instance,the lattice structure 5022 can include a first, or inner, lattice layerand a second, or outer, lattice layer.

The lattice structure 5022 further comprises a plurality of struts 5025designed to deflect and/or buckle under pressure. If the batteryassembly 5000 is dropped, an impact force is absorbed through thecompression of the cells 5024 and the buckling and/or deflection of thestruts 5025. Therefore, the shock absorbing layer 5020 can absorb shockand/or vibrational energy rather than relying on the battery housing5010 to absorb the energy which could, in some circumstances, result inthe damaging of the internal components 5030 of the battery assembly5000. In various instances, the shock absorbing layer 5020 may comprisea foam-like structure and/or an elastomeric material, for example.

In various instances, referring again to FIG. 38, the cells 5024 arearranged in rows, for example, having an inner row of cells 5026, anintermediate row of cells 5027, and an outer row of cells 5028. Eachcell of the inner row of cells 5026 can comprise a planar wall 5026 a.The cells 5026 are oriented such that the planar walls 5026 a of thecells 5026 are at least substantially parallel with a lateral face 5015of the battery housing 5010. Each cell of the outer row of cells 5028can comprise a planar wall 5028 a. The cells 5028 are oriented such thatplanar walls 5028 a of the cells 5028 are at least substantiallyparallel with an outer surface 5029 of the shock absorbing layer 5020.Orienting the planar walls 5026 a, 5028 a of each cell of the inner row5026 and the outer row 5028 in such a manner can create a more shockresistant shock absorbing layer 5020. The shock absorbing layer 5020 maycomprise corner portions positioned near the corners 5014 of the batteryhousing 5010 that can absorb an impact force directed to a corner 5014of the battery housing 5010. The corner portions 5020 are not connectedto one another; however, embodiments are envisioned in which the cornerportions 5020 could be connected to one another.

In various instances, the battery assembly 5000 comprises a plurality ofshock absorbing elements 5020. The shock absorbing elements 5020 arepositioned to protect the corners 5014 of the battery assembly 5000. Invarious instances, an impact force may be more concentrated at thecorners 5014 which can increase the risk of damaging the battery housing5010 and/or the internal components 5030. The shock absorbing elements5020 comprise end portions 5021 which extend beyond a bottom face 5016of the battery housing 5010 in order to prevent damage to the electricalcontacts 5011, for example, and to further protect the battery assembly5000. If the battery assembly 5000 is dropped in an orientation suchthat the bottom face 5016 is at least substantially parallel with theground, one or more of the end portions 5021 can absorb the impact forceand dissipate the impact energy.

It may be preferred that a battery assembly be useable afterexperiencing an impact force, such as when the battery assembly 5000 isinadvertently dropped. In such instances, the shock absorbing elements5020 are configured to allow the battery assembly 5000 to retain theability to be properly fitted into the battery receiving portion of thesurgical instrument and still transmit electrical energy to theelectrical receiving contacts of the surgical instrument even though thebattery assembly 5000 has been dropped. The shock absorbing elements5020 may comprise crumple zones configured to deform when an impactforce is applied. In at least one instance, a crumple zone may notpermanently deform, or at least substantially permanently deform, if theimpact force is below a crumple force threshold. In such instances, thecrumple zone may permanently deform only if the impact force meets orexceeds the crumple force threshold. The crumple zones may limit thedirection of the deformation of the shock absorbing elements 5020 towardthe center of the battery assembly 5000. This inward deformation canpreserve the ability of the battery assembly 5000 to fit into thebattery receiving portion of the surgical instrument by preventingoutward deformation that would cause the battery assembly 5000 toacquire a shape that would not fit into the battery receiving portion ofthe surgical instrument.

In various instances, the shock absorbing elements 5020 may experiencean excessive amount of deformation requiring replacement of the shockabsorbing elements 5020. In the event that the shock absorbing elements5020 need to be replaced, the battery assembly 5000 can be configured sothat the user of the surgical instrument can remove the damaged shockabsorbing elements from the battery assembly 5000 and then attachuseable shock absorbing elements thereto. Discussed in greater detailbelow, it may be preferred that the shock absorbing elements 5020 can bereplaced in a timely fashion. Minimizing the amount of time required toreplace the shock absorbing elements 5020 can be important whenintroducing another task to a surgical operation.

Assembling the shock absorbing elements 5020 to the battery assembly5000 may be necessary when the shock absorbing elements 5020 need to bereplaced. In various instances, the shock absorbing elements 5020comprise one or more protrusions 5023 configured to slide and/or wedgeinto corresponding slots 5013 in the battery housing 5010. The slots5013 are configured to receive the protrusions 5023 of new and/oruseable shock absorbing elements in the event that the shock absorbingelements 5020 need to be replaced. In various instances, the protrusions5023 and the slots 5013 can comprise a press-fit therebetween which canpermit the protrusions 5023 to be slid within the slots 5013 along thecorners of the housing 5010. In at least one instance, the protrusions5023 and the slots 5013 can comprise a wedge-fit therebetween. Invarious instances, the shock absorbing elements 5020 may be attached tothe battery housing 5010 in a snap-fit fashion. In at least oneinstance, the battery housing 5010 may comprise apertures configured toreceive the protrusions 5023 in a snap fit-fashion. In certaininstances, the protrusions 5023 can enter into the slots 5013 radiallyin a snap-fit manner. In addition to or in lieu of the above, the shockabsorbing elements 5020 may be attached to the housing 5010 utilizing anadhesive, for example.

In various instances, the battery assembly 5000 further comprises ashock absorbing cap 5050. The shock absorbing cap 5050 is positioned atan outer end 5002 of the battery assembly 5000. The shock absorbing capcomprises a shoulder 5051 configured to contact the surgical instrumentwhen the battery assembly 5000 is fully seated in the surgicalinstrument. The shoulder 5051 can act as a stop, for example, and candefine the fully seated position of the battery assembly 5000. Invarious instances, the shoulder 5051 is configured to abut the shockabsorbing elements 5020. If the battery assembly 5000 is attached to thesurgical instrument, the shock absorbing cap 5050 can protect thebattery assembly 5000 and/or the surgical instrument if the surgicalinstrument is dropped in an orientation such that the top face is atleast substantially parallel with ground upon impact. On the other hand,if the battery assembly 5000 is not attached to the surgical instrumentthe shock absorbing cap 5050 can still protect the battery assembly 5000if the battery assembly 5000 is dropped in an orientation such that thetop face is at least substantially parallel to the ground.

A partial, cross-sectional view of the battery assembly 5000 isillustrated in FIG. 39. The shock absorbing cap 5050 comprises a latticestructure, or cellular structure, comprising a plurality of cells 5052.The shock absorbing cap 5050 can comprise a material similar to that ofthe shock absorbing layer 5020. A denser lattice arrangement 5055 isused near outer edges 5054 of the battery assembly 5000 which candissipate a more concentrated impact force. The shock absorbing cap 5050comprises a center portion 5053 comprising a columnar latticearrangement 5056 configured to absorb an impact energy generated by animpact force applied to the center portion 5053. In various instances,the column lattice arrangement 5056 is configured to dissipate abroadly-applied impact force.

In various instances, the shock absorbing cap 5050 may comprise crumplezones configured to deform when an impact force is applied. The shockabsorbing cap 5050 can be designed to use the crumple zones to preventthe battery assembly 5000 from bouncing on the floor, for example, inthe event the battery assembly 5000 is dropped.

The shock absorbing cap 5050 may be readily replaceable. In the eventthat the shock absorbing cap 5050 experiences an excessive amount ofdeformation requiring replacement of the shock absorbing cap 5050, thebattery assembly 5000 can be configured so that the user of the surgicalinstrument can remove the damaged shock absorbing cap from the batteryassembly 5000 and attach a useable shock absorbing cap.

In various instances, the shock absorbing elements 5020 can be tetheredby intermediate portions. The intermediate portions can be configured toprotect the lateral faces 5015 and/or the alignment features 5012 of thebattery housing 5010. It can be appreciated that if an impact force isapplied over the surface area of a lateral face 5015 of the batteryhousing 5010, the stress generated by the impact force would be lessthan that if the same impact force were to be applied to a corner 5014of the battery housing 5010 which has a smaller surface area. Statedanother way, the more surface area over which an impact force isdistributed, the lower the stress and the stress concentration will be.Therefore, it may not be necessary that the intermediate portionsbetween the shock absorbing elements 5020 be comprised of a compositionwhich is as substantial as the shock absorbing elements 5020. In atleast one instance, as a result, the intermediate portions may comprisea thinner composition than the shock absorbing elements 5020; however,various embodiments are envisioned in which the intermediate portionscomprise the same and/or a thicker composition than the shock absorbingelements 5020.

Each of the shock absorbing elements 5020 of the battery assembly 5000comprise a similar construction; however, other embodiments areenvisioned in which one or more of the shock absorbing elements 5020 maybe different than the others. In at least one such instance, at leastone of the shock absorbing elements 5020 can comprise an additionalweight, such as a metal weight, for example, positioned therein whichcan cause the battery assembly 5000 to fall and land in a specificorientation. Such an effect could also be achieved by placing one ormore weights in the battery housing 5010, for example.

A battery assembly 5100, which is similar to the battery assembly 5000in many respects, is depicted in FIG. 40. The battery assembly 5100 cancomprise means for protecting the internal components 5030 of thebattery assembly 5100 from damage as a result of impact shock and/orheat. Various means for protecting the battery assembly 5100 from impactshock are discussed above. Heat, which is represented by Q in FIG. 40A,can pass through the battery housing 5110 and can be absorbed by thebattery cells 5031 positioned in the battery housing 5110, for example.

It should be appreciated that heat flows from a higher temperatureenvironment to a lower temperature environment. Under typicalsterilization conditions, the battery assembly 5100 is exposed to a hightemperature and, as a result, heat flows from a sterilization chamberinto the battery assembly 5100. In some circumstances, however, thebattery assembly 5100 may be improperly sterilized and may be exposed toan excessive temperature. If at least one of the battery cells 5031absorbs and/or retains a damaging amount of heat Q, the battery cells5031 may experience a thermal runaway event and fail.

Referring now to FIG. 40A, the battery housing 5110 comprises a heatreflective shell, or shield, 5111, a shock absorbing layer 5112, and aheat sink layer 5113. The reflective shell 5111 is configured to reflectand/or block the transfer of heat Q generated by improper sterilization,for example. In various instances, the reflective shell 5111 may becomprised of a material with a low thermal conductivity, such as apolymer and/or ceramic material, for example. A material having a lowthermal conductivity usually has a low thermal expansion rate. Amaterial having a low thermal conductivity can also perform well as aninsulating layer. In any event, the reflective shell 5111 can comprise areflective outer surface which can reflect heat away from the batteryassembly 5100. The reflective outer surface can be comprised of apolished metal, such as polished aluminum, for example.

Further to the above, the heat sink layer 5113 is configured to absorbheat that passes through the reflective shell 5111. The heat sink layer5113 can also be configured to absorb heat generated by the batterycells 5031 when the battery cells 5031 are being re-charged, forexample. In some instances, the battery cells 5031 may generate anatypical amount of heat due to the overcharging and/or overuse thereof.In various instances, the heat sink layer 5113 can be comprised of amaterial having a high thermal conductivity such as a metal, forexample. Any suitable material having a high thermal conductivity can beused to absorb heat generated by the at least one battery cell 5031.Moreover, a material having a high thermal conductivity often has a highthermal expansion rate.

Further to the above, the battery cells 5031 can expand as they arebeing charged. The expanding battery cells 5031 can push the heat sinklayer 5113 outwardly. Moreover, the heat sink layer 5113 can rapidlyexpand outwardly due to its high thermal expansion rate. Such outwardmovement of the battery cells 5031 and the heat sink layer 5113 can pushthe shock absorbing layer 5112 toward the reflective shell 5111 andapply pressure to the reflective shell 5111. Such pressure can generatestress within the reflective shell 5111, the heat sink layer 5113, andthe battery cells 5031, especially in embodiments where the reflectiveshell 5111 is comprised of a material which has a lower thermalexpansion rate than the heat sink layer 5113. In such instances, theheat sink layer 5113 may expand more than the reflective shell 5111thereby creating additional stress in the reflective shell 5111, theheat sink layer 5113, and the battery cells 5031.

The shock absorbing layer 5112 is configured to permit expansion of thebattery cells 5031 while preventing damage to the battery housing 5110.Acting as a degree of freedom for the battery housing 5110, the shockabsorbing layer 5112 may expand and/or contract in order to manage theexpansion and/or contraction of the battery cells 5031 by allowing theheat sink layer 5113 and the at least one battery cell 5031 to expandand/or contract due to the transfer of heat while maintaining thesupportive ability of the battery assembly 5100. In various instances,the expansion and contraction of the shock absorbing layer 5112 canprevent damage to the battery housing 5110. The shock absorbing layer5112 can absorb thermal shocks as well as impact shocks

Turning now to FIGS. 41 and 42, a surgical instrument system 5300includes a handle 5310 which is usable with a shaft assembly selectedfrom a plurality of shaft assemblies. Further to the above, one or moreof such shaft assemblies can include a staple cartridge, for example.The handle 5310 comprises a housing 5312, a first rotatable drive output5340, and a second rotatable drive output 5350. The handle 5310 furtherincludes a first actuator 5314 for operating the first rotatable driveoutput 5340 and a second actuator 5315 for operating the secondrotatable drive output 5350. The handle housing 5312 comprises a batterycavity 5311 configured to receive a battery therein. The battery can beany suitable battery, such as a lithium ion battery, for example. Invarious instances, the battery is insertable into and removable from thebattery cavity 5311. In many instances, such a battery can provide powerto the handle 5310 to operate the surgical instrument system 5300without the complement of an additional and/or tethered power source,for instance. Such a design can be advantageous for many reasons. Forinstance, when the surgical instrument system 5300 is untethered to apower source, the entirety of the surgical instrument system 5300 can bepresent in a sterile field of the operating suite. Such batteries,however, can only supply a finite amount of power. In manycircumstances, the finite amount of power that the battery can supply issufficient to operate the surgical instrument system 5300. On the otherhand, some circumstances can arise in which the battery cannot supplythe surgical instrument system 5300 with the requisite power.

Referring again to FIG. 41, the battery positioned in the battery cavity5311 of the handle 5310 can be removed and replaced with a power supplyadapter 5360, for example. The power supply adapter 5360 comprises adistal plug 5361 positionable in the battery cavity 5311. The distalplug 5361 comprises a plurality of electrical contacts 5366 which areengageable with corresponding electrical contacts 5316 in the handle5310. In various instances, the battery and the distal plug 5361 canengage the same electrical contacts 5316, depending on which one ispositioned in the battery cavity 5311. In such instances, the handle5310 can be supplied with power from one set of electrical contacts 5316regardless of whether the battery or the power supply adapter 5360 isengaged with the handle 5310. In other instances, the battery engages afirst set of electrical contacts 5316 and the distal plug 5361 engages adifferent set of electrical contacts 5316. In such instances, amicroprocessor of the handle 5310 can be configured to identify whetherthe battery or the power supply adapter 5360 is coupled to the handle5310.

The distal plug 5361 of the power supply adapter 5360 can comprise anysuitable shape so long as the distal plug 5361 is positionable in thebattery cavity 5311. In various instances, the distal plug 5361 cancomprise the same geometry as the battery, for example. In certaininstances, the housing of the distal plug 5361 is analogous orsufficiently similar to the housing of the battery. In any event, thedistal plug 5361 can be configured such that there is little, if any,relative movement between the distal plug 5361 and the battery cavity5311 once the distal plug 5361 has been fully seated in the batterycavity 5311. In at least one instance, the distal plug 5361 comprises astop 5368 configured to contact a stop datum 5318 defined on the handlehousing 5312. When the stop plug stop 5368 contacts the handle stopdatum 5318, the plug 5361 may be fully seated in the battery cavity5311. The handle 5310 and/or the plug 5361 can comprise a lockconfigured to hold the plug 5361 in its fully seated position. Forinstance, the plug 5361 comprises at least one lock 5362 configured toreleasably engage the housing 5312.

The power supply adapter 5360 further comprises a cord 5363 extendingfrom the plug 5361. The cord 5363 electrically couples the plug 5361with a power source, such as power source 5370, for example. The powersource 5370 can comprise any suitable power source such as a signalgenerator that receives power from a 110V, 60 Hz power source and/or abattery, for example. The cord 5363 comprises any suitable number ofconductors and insulators to communicate electrical power from the powersource 5370 to the plug 5361. In at least one instance, the cord 5363comprises a supply conductor, a return conductor, and a groundconductor, for example, which are electrically insulated from oneanother by an insulator jacket. Each conductor of the cord 5363 cancomprise a proximal terminal contained within a proximal plug 5369, forexample. In various instances, the proximal plug 5369 can be releasablyattached to the power source 5370. In certain other instances, theproximal plug may not be readily detached from the power source 5370.

In various instances, the power source 5370 can comprise a directcurrent (DC) power source, for example. In such instances, the batteryand the power supply adapter 5360 can both supply DC power to the handle5310, depending on which one is electrically coupled to the handle 5310.The power supply adapter 5360 and the power source 5370 canco-operatively supply electrical power to the handle 5310 which is equalto and/or in excess of the electrical power that the battery can supplyto the handle 5310. In at least one instance, a surgeon using the handle5310 as part of the surgical instrument system 5300 may determine thatthe handle 5310 is underpowered, remove the battery from the handle5310, and couple the power supply adapter 5360 to the handle 5310. Thepower source 5370 can then be operated to supply sufficient power to thehandle 5310 via the power supply adaptor 5360 to operate the surgicalinstrument system in the desired manner. In various instances, the powersource 5370 can supply a larger voltage to the handle 5310, for example.

In certain instances, the power source 5370 can comprise an alternatingcurrent (AC) power source. In at least one such instance, the powersupply adapter 5360 can include an alternating current to direct current(AC/DC) power converter configured to convert the AC power supplied bythe power source 5370 to DC power. In such instances, the battery andthe power supply adapter 5360 can both supply DC power to the handle5310, depending on which one is electrically coupled to the handle 5310.The AC/DC power converter can include a transformer, a full-wave bridgerectifier, and/or a filter capacitor, for example; however, any suitableAC/DC power converter could be utilized. The AC/DC power converter ispositioned in the plug 5361; however, the AC/DC power converter can bepositioned within the power supply adapter 5360 in any suitablelocation, such as the cable 5363, for example.

In various instances, the handle 5310 includes a AC/DC power converterin addition to or in lieu of the AC/DC power converter of the powersupply adapter 5360. Such an embodiment could implement the dual sets ofbattery contacts 5316 discussed above. In at least one such embodiment,a battery power supply circuit can comprise, one, a first circuitsegment including the first set of contacts 5316 which are engaged bythe battery and, two, a second circuit segment in parallel to the firstcircuit segment which includes the second set of contacts 5316 that areengaged by the power supply adapter 5360. The second circuit segmentincludes an AC/DC power converter configured to convert the AC powersupplied by the power source 5370 to DC power while the first circuitsegment does not include an AC/DC power converter as the battery isalready configured to supply DC power.

Referring again to FIG. 41, the handle 5310 may be in a sterileoperating field 5301 and the power supply 5370 may be in a non-sterilefield 5302. In such instances, the power supply adapter 5360 can extendbetween the sterile field 5301 and the non-sterile field 5302. Thesterile field 5301 and the non-sterile field are separated by a boundary5303. The boundary 5303 may comprise a physical boundary, such as awall, for example, or a virtual boundary intermediate a sterileoperating table and a non-sterile back table, for example.

In order to use the power supply adapter 5360, the battery positioned inthe battery cavity 5311 must be removed in order to install the plug5361 of the power supply adapter 5360 into the battery cavity 5311.Alternative embodiments are envisioned in which the battery can remainin the battery cavity 5311 when a power supply adapter is operablycoupled with the handle 5310. Turning now to FIG. 42, a battery 5461 ispositionable in the battery cavity 5311. The battery 5461 is readilyremovable from the battery cavity 5311 when the lock 5362 isdeactivated; however, embodiments are envisioned in which the battery5461 is not readily removable from the battery cavity 5311. Similar tothe plug 5361, the battery 5461 can be sized and configured such thatthe battery 5461 is closely received in the battery cavity 5311 in orderto limit relative movement between the battery 5461 and the batterycavity 5311 when the battery 5461 is fully seated in the battery cavity5311. Also similar to the plug 5361, the battery 5461 comprises an endstop 5468 configured to contact the stop datum 5318 of the handle 5310.

The battery 5461 comprises one or more lithium ion battery cells, forexample, positioned therein. Similar to the above, the battery 5461 cansupply sufficient power to the handle 5310 to operate the surgicalinstrument system in various instances. In the event that the batterycells of the battery 5461 lack the necessary power to operate thesurgical instrument system, a power supply adapter 5460 can be coupledto the battery 5461. The power supply adapter 5460 is similar to thepower supply adapter 5360 in many respects. Similar to the above, thepower supply adapter 5460 comprises a cord 5463 including a proximal end5369 which can be connected to a power source, such as power source5370, for example. The battery 5461 includes an electrical connector5464 defined therein which is configured to receive a distal connector5465 of the cord 5463 to electrically couple the power source 5370 tothe battery 5461.

In at least one instance, further to the above, the power supply adapter5460 can be placed in series with the cells of the battery 5461 when theadapter connector 5465 is inserted into the battery connector 5464. Insuch instances, the battery 5461 and the power source 5370 can bothsupply power to the handle 5310. FIG. 43 depicts such an embodiment. Asdisclosed in FIG. 43, a battery 5461′ comprises a power supply circuitincluding one or more battery cells 5470′ which are configured to supplyDC power to the handle 5310. When the power supply adapter 5460 iselectrically coupled to the battery 5461′, the power source 5370 can,one, re-charge the battery cells 5470′ via re-charging circuit 5471′and/or, two, supplement the power that the battery cells 5470′ aresupplying to the handle 5310. In the instances where the power source5370 comprises an AC power source, the battery 5461′ can comprise anAC/DC transformer 5467′ which is configured to convert the AC powersupplied by the power source 5370 to DC power before the power issupplied to the charge circuit 5471′ and/or the battery cells 5470′. Thepower supply circuit in the battery comprises the battery connector5464, the AC/DC transformer 5467′, the charge circuit 5471′, the batterycells 5470′, and the battery terminals 5366 which are in series with oneanother; however, any suitable arrangement for the power supply circuitcan be utilized.

In other instances, the insertion of the adapter connector 5465 into thebattery connector 5464 can electrically couple the power source 5370with the handle 5310 and, concurrently, electrically decouple thebattery cells of the battery 5461 from the handle 5310. FIG. 44 depictssuch an embodiment. As disclosed in FIG. 44, a battery 5461″ comprises apower supply circuit including one or more battery cells 5470″ which areconfigured to supply DC power to the handle 5310. The battery cells5470″ are in electrical communication with the battery contacts 5366 viaa first circuit segment 5472″ and a battery switch 5474″ when theadapter connector 5465 is not positioned in the battery connector 5464.In such instances, the battery switch 5474″ is in a first switch state.The insertion of the adapter connector 5465 into the battery connector5464 places the switch 5474″ in a second switch state, as illustrated inFIG. 44, in which the battery cells 5470″ are no longer able to supplyelectrical power to the contacts 5366. Additionally, the power supplyadapter 5460 and the battery connector 5464 are in electricalcommunication with the battery contacts 5366 via a second circuitsegment 5473″ and the battery switch 5474″ when the switch 5474″ is inits second switch state. In the instances where the power source 5370comprises an AC power source, the second circuit segment 5473″ of thebattery 5461″ can comprise an AC/DC transformer 5467″ which isconfigured to convert the AC power supplied by the power source 5370 toDC power.

As discussed above, referring again to FIG. 44, the battery switch 5474″can be operated to selectively place the first parallel circuit segment5472″ including the battery cells 5470″ in electrical communication withthe battery contacts 5366 when the switch 5474″ is in its first switchstate and, alternatively, the second parallel circuit segment 5473″including the battery connector 5464 and the AC/DC transformer 5467″ inelectrical communication with the battery contacts 5366 when the switch5474″ is in its second switch state. The battery switch 5474″ cancomprise a mechanical switch, an electromechanical switch, and/or anelectronic switch, as described in greater detail further below.

A mechanical battery switch 5474″ can comprise a sliding busbar which ispushed between a first position associated with a first switch state ofthe switch 5474″ and a second position associated with a second switchstate of the switch 5474″, for example. In the first position of thesliding busbar, the busbar couples the first circuit segment 5472″ withthe battery contacts 5366 but does not couple the second circuit segment5473″ with the battery contacts 5366. In the second position of thesliding busbar, the busbar couples the second circuit segment 5473″ withthe battery contacts 5366 but does not couple the first circuit segment5472″ with the battery contacts 5366. The battery 5461 can furthercomprise a biasing member, such as a spring, for example, configured tobias the busbar into its first position and, thus, bias the batteryswitch 5474″ into its first switch state. Further to the above, theadapter connector 5465 can contact the busbar of the switch 5474″ whenthe adapter connector 5465 is inserted into the battery connector 5464and push the busbar from its first position into its second position andplace the switch 5474″ into its second switch state. When the adapterconnector 5465 is removed from the battery connector 5464, the biasingmember can return the busbar to its first position and electricallyre-couple the battery cells 5470″ with the battery contacts 5366. Incertain alternative embodiments, the insertion of the adapter connector5465 into the battery connector 5464 may permanently decouple thebattery cells 5470″ from the battery contacts 5466. In at least one suchembodiment, the battery 5461″ can comprise a lock configured to hold thebusbar in its second position once the busbar is pushed into its secondposition by the adapter connector 5465. Such an embodiment can provide apermanent lockout to prevent the battery 5461″ from being used again tosupply power from the battery cells 5470″ as it may be undesirableand/or unreliable to reuse and/or recharge a battery that was unable toprovide the handle 5310 with sufficient power.

An electromechanical switch 5474″ can comprise a relay, for example. Therelay can be biased into a first relay state when the adapter connector5465 is not positioned in the battery connector 5464. The relay can beswitched into a second relay state when the adapter connector 5465 iselectrically coupled to the battery connector 5464. The relay cancomprise an electromagnet, which can include a wire coil and anarmature, for example, that is activated when the contacts of theadapter connector 5465 interface with the battery connector 5464. In atleast one instance, the power supply adapter 5460 can comprise a relaycontrol circuit in addition to the power circuits which can provide thecoil of the relay with a sufficient voltage to move the armature of therelay between its first switch state and its second switch state. Invarious instances, the switch 5474″ can comprise a latching relay, forexample. In at least one instance, the switch 5474″ can comprise acontactor, for example, which can be electronically controlled by amicroprocessor and a control circuit, for example.

Certain electronic switches may not have any moving components, such asa solid-state relay, for example. A solid-state relay can utilize athyristor, TRIAC and/or any other solid-state switching device, forexample. A solid-state relay can be activated by a control signal fromthe power source 5370, for example, to switch the load being supplied tothe battery contacts 5366 from the battery cells 5470″ to the powersource 5370. In at least one instance, the solid-state relay cancomprise a contactor solid-state relay, for example. In variousinstances, an electronic switch can comprise a microprocessor and asensor in signal communication with the microprocessor which detectswhether power is being supplied to a contact of the battery connector5464, for example. In at least one instance, the sensor can beconfigured to inductively detect a field that is generated when voltageis applied to the contacts of the battery connector 5464. In certaininstances, the microprocessor can be responsive to a control signalreceived from the power supply 5370, for example, to switch a relaybetween a first relay state and a second relay state to control whetherthe first parallel circuit segment 5472″ or the second parallel circuitsegment 5473″, respectively, is in electrical communication with thebattery contacts 5366.

Further to the above, the power supply adapter 5460 can include an AC/DCpower converter. The power supply adapter 5460 includes an AC/DC powertransformer 5467 in the cord 5463; however, an AC/DC power transformermay be placed in any suitable location in the power supply adapter 5460.

In various instances, a power adapter supply system can include abattery, such as the battery 5361, 5461, 5461′, and/or 5461″, forexample, and a power supply adapter, such as the power supply adapter5360 and/or 5460, for example.

Turning now to FIGS. 45-47, a handle 5510 of a surgical instrumentsystem comprises a gripping portion, or pistol grip, 5511 and a housing5512. The handle 5510 further comprises one or more battery cells, suchas battery cells 5470, for example, positioned in the gripping portion5511. In many instances, the battery cells 5470 can provide enough powerto the handle 5510 to operate the surgical instrument system. In otherinstances, the battery cells 5470 may not be able to provide enoughpower to the handle 5510. In such instances, as described in greaterdetail further below, a supplemental battery, such as supplementalbattery 5560, for example, can be attached to the handle 5510 to providepower to the handle 5510.

Further to the above, referring primarily to FIG. 47, the battery cells5470 are arranged in series as part of a battery power supply circuit5513. The battery power supply circuit 5513 is in electricalcommunication with an electrical connector 5516 defined in the housing5512. The electrical connector 5516 can comprise any suitable number ofelectrical contacts. In at least one instance, the electrical connector5516 comprises two electrical contacts, for example. The electricalconnector 5516 is positioned at the end of the gripping portion 5511;however, the electrical connector 5516 can be positioned at any suitablelocation on the handle 5510.

The handle 5510 further comprises a connector cover 5517. The connectorcover 5517 is movable between a first position in which it covers theelectrical connector 5516 and a second position in which the electricalconnector 5516 is exposed. The housing 5512 comprises a slot 5518defined therein configured to slidably receive and support the connectorcover 5517. The handle 5510 further comprises a biasing member, such asspring 5519, for example, positioned in the slot 5518 intermediate thehousing 5512 and the connector cover 5517. The spring 5519 is configuredto bias the connector cover 5517 into its first position to cover theelectrical connector 5516.

As discussed above, the supplemental battery 5560 is attachable to thehandle 5510. The supplemental battery 5560 comprises a housing 5562 andone or more battery cells, such as battery cells 5570, for example,positioned therein. The battery cells 5570 are arranged in series aspart of a supplemental battery supply circuit 5563. The supplementalbattery supply circuit 5563 is in electrical communication with anelectrical connector 5566 defined in the battery housing 5562. Theelectrical connector 5566 comprises the same number of electricalcontacts as the electrical connector 5516 and are configured to formmating pairs with the electrical contacts of the electrical connector5516.

The housing 5562 of the supplemental battery 5560 further comprises acavity, or receptacle, 5561 defined therein which is configured toreceive the gripping portion 5511 of the handle 5510. The cavity 5561 isconfigured to closely receive the gripping portion 5511 such that thereis little to no relative movement between the supplemental battery 5560and the handle 5510 when the supplemental battery 5560 is fullyassembled thereto. As the supplemental battery 5560 is being assembledto the handle 5510, the housing 5562 contacts the connector cover 5517and pushes the connector cover 5517 into its second position to exposethe electrical connector 5516. Once the contacts of the electricalconnector 5516 have been at least partially exposed, the contacts of theelectrical connector 5566 can engage the contacts of the electricalconnector 5516. At such point, the supplemental battery supply circuit5563 has been electrically coupled to the battery power supply circuit5513.

The electrical connectors 5516 and 5566 can be positioned and arrangedsuch that they do not engage one another until the supplemental battery5560 has been fully seated onto the gripping portion 5511. In otherembodiments, the electrical connectors 5516 and 5566 can be positionedand arranged such that they engage one another prior to the supplementalbattery 5560 being fully seated onto the gripping portion 5511. Ineither event, the housing 5512 of the handle 5510 and/or the housing5562 of the supplemental battery 5560 can comprise a lock configured tohold the supplemental battery 5560 to the housing 5510. The lock isreleasable to allow the supplemental battery 5560 to be readily removedfrom the handle 5510; however, embodiments are envisioned in which thelock does not permit the supplemental battery 5560 to be readilyreleased from the handle 5510.

As discussed above, the supplemental battery supply circuit 5563 iselectrically coupled to the battery power supply circuit 5513 when thesupplemental battery 5560 is assembled to the handle 5510. In variousinstances, the supplemental battery cells 5570 are placed in series withthe handle battery cells 5470 and can increase the power available tothe handle 5510. Such embodiments can be useful when the handle batterycells 5470 have become drained from use, for example. In otherinstances, the supplemental battery cells 5570 of the supplementalbattery 5560 are placed in parallel with the battery cells 5470 of thehandle 5510. In at least one such instance, the handle battery cells5470 can be electrically decoupled from the handle 5510 when thesupplemental battery cells 5570 are electrically coupled with the handle5510. Such embodiments can be useful when a short has occurred in thehandle battery cells 5470. Various embodiments of the handle 5510 caninclude a switch which can allow the user to selectively place thesupplemental battery cells 5570 in series with or in parallel with thehandle battery cells 5470.

EXAMPLES Example 1

A surgical apparatus comprising a handle module comprising an attachmentportion, wherein a detachable shaft module is attachable to theattachment portion for collectively performing a surgical procedure, andwherein the handle module comprises a rotary drive system for drivingthe detachable shaft module, an electric motor coupled to the rotarydrive system for powering the rotary drive system, and one or moresensors. The handle module further comprises a handle module processorcircuit in communication with the one or more sensors and the electricmotor, wherein the handle module processor circuit is programmed tocontrol the electric motor, track an end-of-life parameter for thehandle module based on input from the one or more sensors, and maintaina count of the end-of-life parameter.

Example 2

The surgical apparatus of Example 1, further comprising means, incommunication with the handle module processor circuit, for taking anend-of-life action when the handle module processor circuit determinesthat the count for the end-of-life parameter reaches a threshold value.

Example 3

The surgical apparatus of Example 2, wherein the means for taking theend-of-life action comprises a display that displays to a user of thesurgical apparatus information indicative of the end-of-life parameterreaching the threshold valve.

Example 4

The surgical apparatus of Example 3, wherein the display displays thecount

Example 5

The surgical apparatus of Examples 3 or 4, wherein the display displaysan indicator that indicates a remaining number of uses for the handlemodule before the threshold value is reached.

Example 6

The surgical apparatus of Examples 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the means fortaking the end-of-life action comprises means for disabling the handlemodule for a subsequent surgical procedure.

Example 7

The surgical apparatus of Example 6, wherein the means for disabling thehandle module comprises means for disabling the operation of theelectric motor.

Example 8

The surgical apparatus of Examples 6 or 7, wherein the means fordisabling the handle module comprise means for preventing installationof a charged battery pack in the handle module.

Example 9

The surgical apparatus of Examples 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein theend-of-life parameter is selected from the group consisting of a numberof firings by the handle module, a number of surgical proceduresinvolving the handle module, a number of attachments of a detachableshaft module to the handle module, a number of sterilizations of thehandle module, and a number of attachments of removable battery packs tothe handle module, wherein the removable battery packs are for supplyingelectric power to the handle module during a surgical procedure.

Example 10

The surgical apparatus of Examples 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, whereinthe end-of-life parameter is computed according to a function whoseinputs include the number of firings by the handle module and the numberof surgical procedures involving the handle module.

Example 11

The surgical apparatus of Example 10, wherein the function computes theend-of-life parameter by using different weighting coefficients fordifferent detachable shaft modules.

Example 12

The surgical apparatus of Examples 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11,wherein the detachable shaft module comprises an end effector with afiring member that, when fired, traverses a stroke length, and whereinthe end-of-life parameter comprises a usage parameter for the handlemodule indicative of differences between the force that is expected tobe exerted by the handle module and the force actually exerted by thehandle module over the stroke length of the firing member.

Example 13

The surgical apparatus of Examples 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or12, wherein the end-of-life parameter comprises the number of times thehandle module has been sterilized.

Example 14

The surgical apparatus of Examples 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,or 13, wherein the handle module includes a sterilization sensor that isin communication with the handle module processor circuit that isactuated when a protective sterilization cover is attached to the handlemodule.

Example 15

The surgical apparatus of Example 14, wherein the sterilization sensorcomprises a switch that is actuated when the protective sterilizationcover is attached to the handle module.

Example 16

The surgical apparatus of Examples 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14 or 15, further comprising an inspection station, wherein thehandle module is connectable to the inspection station for inspection ofthe handle module following the surgical procedure, wherein theinspection station comprises an inspection station processor circuitthat communicates with the handle module processor circuit via a dataconnection when the handle module is connected to the inspectionstation, and an inspection station display in communication with theinspection station processor circuit, wherein the inspection stationdisplay displays information about the handle module when the handlemodule is connected to the inspection station.

Example 17

A surgical apparatus comprising a handle module that is attachable to adetachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgicalprocedure, wherein the handle module comprises a rotary drive systemwhich is activatable to drive the detachable shaft module, an electricmotor coupled to the rotary drive system for powering the rotary drivesystem, and means for tracking a count of an end-of-life parameter forthe handle module based on the number of times in which the rotary drivesystem is activated.

Example 18

The surgical apparatus of Example 17, wherein the means for tracking thecount of the end-of-life parameter comprises a processor circuit andmemory, wherein the memory stores program code that is executed by theprocessor to track the count of the end-of-life parameter for the handlemodule.

Example 19

The surgical apparatus of Examples 17 or 18, wherein the handle moduleis powered by a removable battery pack, and wherein the means fortracking the count of the end-of-life parameter for the handle module isfurther based on a number of times a removable battery pack is connectedto the handle module.

Example 20

The surgical apparatus of Examples 17, 18, or 19, further comprising asterilization tray for holding the handle module during a sterilizationprocedure, wherein the means for tracking the count of the end-of-lifeparameter for the handle module comprises a counter on the sterilizationtray that increments the count when the handle module is placed in thesterilization tray.

Example 21

An apparatus, comprising a handle module that is attachable to adetachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgicalprocedure, wherein the handle module comprises a rotary drive system fordriving the detachable shaft module, an electric motor coupled to therotary drive system for powering the rotary drive system, and a handlemodule processor circuit in communication with the electric motor. Theapparatus further comprises an inspection station for connection to thehandle module when the handle module is not being used in a surgicalprocedure, wherein the inspection station comprises an inspectionstation processor circuit that communicates with the handle moduleprocessor circuit via a data connection when the handle module isconnected to the inspection station, and an inspection station displayin communication with the inspection station processor circuit, whereinthe inspection station display displays information about handle moduleconnected to the inspection station.

Example 22

The apparatus of Example 21, wherein the inspection station comprises anelectric power source for supplying electric power to the handle modulewhen the handle module is connected to the inspection station.

Example 23

The apparatus of Examples 21 or 22, wherein the inspection station isconfigured to perform one or more tests on the handle module todetermine the suitability of the handle module for use in a subsequentsurgical procedure.

Example 24

The apparatus of Example 23, wherein the one or more tests comprises aseal integrity test of the handle module.

Example 25

The apparatus of Examples 23 or 24, wherein the one or more testscomprises a gear backlash test for the rotary drive system of the handlemodule.

Example 26

The apparatus of Examples 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25, wherein the inspectionstation is configured to perform a conditioning action to condition thehandle module for use in a subsequent surgical procedure.

Example 27

The apparatus of Example 26, wherein the conditioning action comprisesdrying components of the handle module.

Example 28

The apparatus of Examples 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27, wherein theinspection station comprises one or more fans for blowing air on thecomponents of the handle module.

Example 29

The apparatus of Examples 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, or 28, wherein theinspection station comprises a vacuum port for drying the components ofthe handle module with vacuum pressure air flow.

Example 30

The apparatus of Examples 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, or 29, whereinthe inspection station further comprises a load simulation adapterconnectable to the rotary drive system of the handle module.

Example 31

The apparatus of Example 30, wherein the load simulation adaptercomprises a motor for supplying a simulated load to the rotary drivesystem of the handle module.

Example 32

The apparatus of Examples 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, or 31wherein the inspection station is further connected to the detachableshaft module.

Example 33

A surgical process comprising performing, by a clinician, a surgicalprocedure on a patient with a surgical instrument that comprises ahandle module connected to a detachable shaft module, wherein the handlemodule includes a memory that stores data about the handle module andthe surgical procedure, while the handle module is connected to theinspection station, downloading to a memory of the inspection stationdata about the surgical procedure stored in the memory of the handlemodule, and while the handle module is connected to the inspectionstation, visually displaying on a display of the inspection of stationinformation about the handle module.

Example 34

The surgical process of Example 33, further comprising following thesurgical procedure and prior to connecting the handle module to aninspection station, removing a removable battery pack from the handlemodule, wherein the removable battery pack powered the handle moduleduring the surgical procedure, and while the handle module is connectedto the inspection station, electrically powering the handle module withelectric power from the inspection station.

Example 35

The surgical process of Examples 33 or 34, while the handle module isconnected to the inspection station, performing one or more tests on thehandle module to determine the suitability of the handle module for usein a subsequent surgical procedure.

Example 36

The surgical process of Example 35, wherein the one or more testscomprises a seal integrity test of the handle module.

Example 37

The surgical process of Examples 35 or 36, wherein the one or more testscomprises a gear backlash test.

Example 38

The surgical process of Examples 34, 35, 36, or 37, while the handlemodule is connected to the inspection station, performing a conditioningaction to condition the handle module for use in a subsequent surgicalprocedure.

Example 39

The surgical process of Example 38, wherein the conditioning actioncomprises drying components of the handle module.

Example 40

A surgical apparatus comprising a handle module that is attachable to adetachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgicalprocedure, wherein the handle module comprises a rotary drive system fordriving the detachable shaft module, an electric motor coupled to therotary drive system for powering the rotary drive system, one or moresensors for sensing data about the electric motor, and a handle moduleprocessor circuit in communication with the one or more sensors, whereinthe handle module processor circuit is programmed to monitor aperformance parameter of the handle module based on input from the oneor more sensors, and wherein the handle module processor circuitmonitors the performance parameter of the handle module by monitoringwhether the performance parameter is outside an acceptable performanceband.

Example 41

The surgical apparatus of Example 40, wherein the processor circuitmonitors the performance parameter of the handle module by monitoringwhether the performance parameter is below or above the acceptableperformance band.

Example 42

The surgical apparatus of Examples 40 or 41, wherein the handle modulefurther comprises means for taking remedial action when the handlemodule processor circuit determines that the performance parameter isoutside the acceptable performance band.

Example 43

The surgical apparatus of Examples 40, 41, or 42, wherein theperformance parameter comprises a performance parameter of the electricmotor.

Example 44

The surgical apparatus of Example 43, wherein the performance parameterof the electric motor comprises the energy consumed by the electricmotor over the life of the handle module.

Example 45

The surgical apparatus of Examples 43 or 44, wherein the performanceparameter of the electric motor comprises the power consumed by theelectric motor for each firing of the handle module.

Example 46

The surgical apparatus of Examples 43, 44, or 45, wherein theperformance parameter of the electric motor comprises the energyconsumed by the electric motor over the life of the handle module andthe power consumed by the electric motor for each firing of the handlemodule.

Example 47

The surgical apparatus of Example 46, wherein the handle moduleprocessor circuit is programmed to determine that remedial action shouldbe taken when at least one of the following conditions is met the energyconsumed by the electric motor over the life of the handle moduleexceeds a first energy threshold value, and the energy consumed by theelectric motor over the life of the handle module exceeds a secondenergy threshold value, which is lower than the first energy thresholdvalue, and the handle module has had a threshold number of devicefirings above a threshold power level.

Example 48

The surgical apparatus of Examples 43, 44, 45, 46, or 47 wherein theperformance parameter comprises output torque of the electric motor.

Example 49

The surgical apparatus of Examples 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, or 48wherein the performance parameter comprises a performance parameter ofthe rotary drive system.

Example 50

The surgical apparatus of Example 49 wherein the performance parameterof the rotary drive system comprises gear backlash.

Example 51

The surgical apparatus of Examples 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50,wherein the means for taking remedial action comprises a display fordisplaying a condition of the handle module.

Example 52

The surgical apparatus of Examples 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50,or 51 wherein the means for taking remedial action comprises means fordisabling the handle module.

Example 53

The surgical apparatus of Example 52, wherein the means for disablingthe handle module comprises means for preventing the insertion of acharged, removable battery pack into the handle module to power thehandle module during a surgical procedure.

Example 54

The surgical apparatus of Example 53, wherein the means for preventingthe insertion of a charged, removable battery pack comprises aspring-loaded mechanical lock-out.

Example 55

The surgical apparatus of Examples 53 or 54, wherein the means forpreventing the insertion of a charged, removable battery pack comprisesa latch that, when actuated, prevents the removal of a discharged,removable battery pack from the handle module.

Example 56

A surgical apparatus, comprising a detachable shaft module and a handlemodule connected to the detachable shaft module for collectivelyperforming a surgical procedure, wherein the handle module comprises arotary drive system for driving the detachable shaft module, an electricmotor coupled to the rotary drive system for powering the rotary drivesystem, means for monitoring a performance parameter of at least one ofthe electric motor and the rotary drive system, and means for taking aremedial action upon a determination that the performance parameter isoutside an acceptable performance band.

Example 57

The surgical apparatus of Example 56, wherein the performance parametercomprises the energy consumed by the electric motor over the life of thehandle module.

Example 58

The surgical apparatus of Examples 56 or 57, wherein the performanceparameter comprises the power consumed by the electric motor for eachfiring of the handle module.

Example 59

The surgical apparatus of Examples 56, 57, or 58, wherein theperformance parameter comprises the output torque of the electric motor.

Example 60

The surgical apparatus of Examples 56, 57, 58, or 59, wherein the meansfor taking remedial action comprises means for disabling the handlemodule.

Example 61

The surgical apparatus of Example 60, wherein the means for disablingthe handle module comprises means for disabling the electric motor.

Example 62

The surgical apparatus of Examples 60 or 61, wherein the means fordisabling the handle module comprises means for preventing the insertionof a charged, removable battery pack into the handle module to power thehandle module during a surgical procedure.

Example 63

A combination, comprising a handle module that is attachable to adetachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgicalprocedure, a removable, rechargeable battery pack connectable to thehandle module for providing electric power to the handle module during asurgical procedure, wherein the battery pack comprises a memory forstoring charging data and discharging data for the battery pack, and acharging station for at least one of charging and discharging thebattery pack when the battery pack is removed from the handle module andinserted into the charging station, wherein the charging station is forat least one of charging and discharging the battery pack based on thecharging data and discharging data stored in the memory of the batterypack.

Example 64

The combination of Example 63, wherein the battery pack comprises aplurality of battery cells, the charging station comprises a chargingstation processor circuit that determines when the battery cells shouldbe rebalanced based on the charging data and discharging data stored inthe battery pack memory and based on rebalancing criteria, and thecharging station rebalances the battery cells of the battery pack whenthe charging station processor circuit determines that the battery cellsshould be rebalanced.

Example 65

The combination of Example 64, wherein the charging station processorcircuit is programmed to determine that the battery cells should berebalanced after N charges of the battery pack without rebalancing,where N is an integer greater than zero.

Example 66

The combination of Examples 64 or 65, wherein prior to rebalancing thebattery cells, the charging station is configured to top off a charge ofthe battery cells.

Example 67

The combination of Examples 63, 64, 65, or 66, wherein the chargingstation comprises a charging station processor circuit that determineswhether the battery pack should be discharged based on the charging anddischarging data stored in the battery pack memory and based ondischarging criteria, and wherein the charging station discharges thebattery pack when the charging station processor circuit determines thatthe battery pack should be discharged.

Example 68

The combination of Example 67, wherein the discharging criteria comprisewhether a second battery pack installed in the charging station is fullycharged and ready for use in the handle module.

Example 69

The combination of Examples 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, or 68, wherein thecharging station is programmed to charge the battery pack at a time ofday based on surgical procedure schedule data for an organizational userof the charging station, and wherein the surgical procedure scheduledata is stored in a memory of the charging station.

Example 70

The combination of Example 69, wherein the surgical procedure scheduledata comprises a statistical likelihood that the organizational user isperforming a surgical procedure with the handle module at the time ofday.

Example 71

The combination of Examples 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, or 70, whereinthe charging station comprises means for automatically securing thebattery pack to the charging station when the battery pack is not readyfor use in the handle module for a surgical procedure.

Example 72

The combination of Example 71, wherein the means for automaticallysecuring the battery pack to the charging station comprises a screwthat, when actuated by insertion of the battery pack into the chargingstation, screws into the battery pack.

Example 73

The combination of Examples 71 or 72, wherein the means forautomatically securing the battery pack to the charging station furthercomprises a linear actuator for actuating the screw.

Example 74

The combination of Examples 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, or73, wherein the charging station comprises a display for displayingcharge status information about the battery pack.

Example 75

The combination of Examples 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73,or 74, wherein the charging station comprises means for rapidly chargingthe first battery pack when a rapid charge user input for the batterypack is received by the charging station.

Example 76

The combination of Example 75, wherein the charging station comprisesmeans for automatically securing the battery pack to the chargingstation when the battery pack is not ready for use in the handle modulefor a surgical procedure.

Example 77

A surgical process comprising performing, by a clinician, a surgicalprocedure on a patient with a surgical instrument that comprises ahandle module connected to a detachable shaft module, wherein the handlemodule is powered during the surgical procedure by a removable,rechargeable battery pack, and wherein the battery pack comprises amemory for storing charging data and discharging data for the batterypack, removing the battery pack from the handle module after it has beenused during the surgical procedure, following the removing step, placingthe battery pack in a charging station to recharge the battery pack,following the placement step, downloading by the charging station thecharging and discharging data from the memory of the battery pack, andfollowing the downloading step, at least one of charging anddischarging, by the charging station, the battery pack based on thecharging data and discharging data stored in the memory of the batterypack.

Example 78

The surgical process of Example 77, wherein the battery pack comprises aplurality of battery cells, and wherein the process further comprises:following the downloading step, determining, by the charging station,whether the battery cells should be rebalanced based on the chargingdata and discharging data stored in the battery pack memory and based onrebalancing criteria, and upon determining that rebalancing of thebattery cells of the battery pack should be performed, rebalancing thebattery cells by the charging station.

Example 79

The surgical process of Examples 77 or 78, following the downloadingstep, rapidly charging the battery pack in response to receipt of arapid charge user input.

Example 80

The surgical process of Examples 77, 78, or 79, following the placementstep, automatically securing the battery pack to the charging stationwhen the battery pack is not ready for use in the handle module for asurgical procedure.

Example 81

A combination, comprising a handle module that is attachable to adetachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgicalprocedure, a removable, rechargeable battery pack connectable to thehandle module for providing electric power to the handle module during asurgical procedure, and a charging station for charging the battery packwhen the battery pack is removed from the handle module and insertedinto the charging station, wherein the charging station comprisescircuitry for rapidly charging the battery pack when a rapid charge userinput for the battery pack is received by the charging station.

Example 82

The combination of Example 81, wherein the charging station comprises adisplay for displaying the charge status of the battery pack.

Example 83

The combination of Examples 81 or 82, wherein the charging stationcomprises a user interface through which a user inputs the rapid chargeuser input to the charging station.

Example 84

The combination of Example 83, wherein the user interface comprises abutton on the charging station which is actuatable to provide thecharging station with the rapid charge user input.

Example 85

The combination of Examples 81, 82, 83 or 84, wherein the circuitry forrapidly charging the battery pack comprises circuitry for changing acharging profile for the battery pack.

Example 86

The combination of Examples 81, 82, 83, 84, or 85, wherein the circuitryfor changing the charging profile for the battery pack comprises avoltage regulator connected to the battery pack, and a chargingcontroller circuit connected to the voltage regulator.

Example 87

The combination of Examples 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, or 86 wherein thecircuitry for rapidly charging the battery pack comprises acharge-storing device of the charging station, and wherein charge storedon the charge-storing device is used to charge the battery pack.

Example 88

The combination of Example 87, wherein the charge-storing devicecomprises a supercapacitor.

Example 89

The combination of Example 88, wherein the charging station furthercomprises circuitry for discharging the first battery pack to thesupercapacitor.

Example 90

The combination of Examples 87, 88, or 89, wherein the charge-storingdevice comprises one or more battery cells internal to the chargingstation.

Example 91

The combination of Examples 87, 88, or 89, wherein the charge-storingdevice comprises a plurality of battery cells internal to the chargingstation, and wherein the circuitry for rapidly charging the battery packcomprises circuitry for charging the battery pack with the plurality ofbattery cells.

Example 92

The combination of Example 91, wherein the plurality of battery cellsare connected in series

Example 93

The combination of Examples 91 or 92, wherein the plurality of batterycells are connected as parallel current sources.

Example 94

The combination of Examples 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,92, or 93, wherein the charging station further comprises circuitry fordischarging the first battery pack to the internal plurality of batterycells.

Example 95

The combination of Examples 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,92, 93, or 94, wherein the battery pack comprises a first battery pack,wherein the charging station comprises a first charging receptacle forreceiving the first battery pack to charge the first battery pack, and asecond charging receptacle for receiving a second battery pack to chargethe second battery pack, and wherein the circuitry for rapidly chargingthe first battery pack comprises circuitry for charging the firstbattery pack with charge stored on the second battery pack.

Example 96

The combination of Example 95, wherein the charging station furthercomprises circuitry for discharging the first battery pack to the secondbattery pack.

Example 97

The combination of Examples 95 or 96, wherein the charging stationcomprises a display for displaying the charge status of the firstbattery pack and the second battery pack.

Example 98

The combination of Examples 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91,92, 93, 94, 95, 96, or 97, wherein the charging station comprises meansfor automatically securing the battery pack to the charging station whenthe battery pack is not ready for use in the handle module for asurgical procedure.

Example 99

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle module for performing asurgical procedure, a removable, rechargeable battery pack connectableto the handle module for providing electric power to the handle moduleduring the surgical procedure, and a charging station for charging thebattery pack, wherein the charging station comprises circuitry forcharging the handle module under two operating conditions: a firstoperating condition in which the battery pack is charged from a primarypower source, and a second operating condition in which the battery packis charged from the primary power source and a secondary power source inorder to rapidly charge the battery pack in case the battery pack isurgently needed in the surgical procedure.

Example 100

The surgical instrument system of Example 99, wherein the secondarypower source comprises a second removable, rechargeable battery packconnectable to the handle module.

Example 101

An apparatus comprising a handle module that is attachable to adetachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgicalprocedure, wherein the handle module comprises a handle module memorycircuit for storing handle module usage data for the handle module, andan inspection station for connection to the handle module when thehandle module is not being used in a surgical procedure, wherein theinspection station comprises an inspection station processor circuit fordetermining one or more service recommendations for the handle modulebased on the handle module usage data stored in the memory of the handlemodule and based on service recommendation criteria.

Example 102

The apparatus of Example 101, wherein the inspection station furthercomprises a display that is in communication with the inspection stationprocessor circuit, and wherein the display is for displaying informationabout the one or more service recommendations.

Example 103

The apparatus of Examples 101 or 102, wherein the service recommendationcriteria are stored in an inspection station memory of the inspectionstation, and wherein the inspection station processor circuit is incommunication with the inspection station memory.

Example 104

The apparatus of Examples 101, 102, or 103, wherein the handle modulecomprises a handle module processor circuit in communication with thehandle module memory circuit, and wherein the handle module processorcircuit is in communication with the inspection station processorcircuit when the handle module is connected to the inspection stationsuch that usage data from the handle module memory is downloadable tothe inspection station.

Example 105

The apparatus of Examples 101, 102, 103, or 104, wherein the handlemodule usage data comprises data selected from the group consisting ofdata regarding a number of surgical procedures involving the handlemodule, data regarding a number of device firings by the handle module,data regarding the power expended during the device firings of thehandle module, data regarding the forces experienced during the devicefirings of the handle module, data regarding energy consumed by anelectric motor of the handle module over the life of the handle module,and data regarding gear backlash for a rotary drive system of the handlemodule.

Example 106

The apparatus of Examples 101, 102, 103, 104, or 105 wherein the one ormore service recommendations comprise a recommendation that the handlemodule be rebuilt.

Example 107

The apparatus of Examples 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, or 106, wherein theone or more service recommendations comprise a recommendation that oneor more components of the handle module be lubricated.

Example 108

The apparatus of Examples 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, or 107 whereinthe one or more service recommendations comprise a recommendation thatone or more components of the handle module be inspected.

Example 109

An apparatus comprising a handle module that is attachable to adetachable shaft module for collectively performing a surgicalprocedure, wherein the handle module comprises a handle module memorycircuit for storing handle module usage data for the handle module, anda handle module processor circuit for determining one or more servicerecommendations for the handle module based on the handle module usagedata stored in the memory of the handle module and based on servicerecommendation criteria.

Example 110

The apparatus of Example 109, wherein the handle module furthercomprises a display that is in communication with the handle moduleprocessor circuit, and wherein the display is for displaying informationabout the one or more service recommendations.

Example 111

The apparatus of Examples 109 or 110, wherein the handle module usagedata comprises data selected from the group consisting of data regardinga number of surgical procedures involving the handle module, dataregarding a number of device firings by the handle module, dataregarding the power expended during the device firings of the handlemodule, data regarding the forces experienced during the device firingsof the handle module, data regarding energy consumed by an electricmotor of the handle module over the life of the handle module, and dataregarding gear backlash for a rotary drive system of the handle module.

Example 112

The apparatus of Examples 109, 110, or 111, wherein the one or moreservice recommendations comprise a recommendation that the handle modulebe rebuilt.

Example 113

The apparatus of Examples 109, 110, 111, or 112, wherein the one or moreservice recommendations comprise a recommendation that the handle modulebe rebuilt.

Example 114

The apparatus of Examples 109, 110, 111, 112, or 113, wherein the one ormore service recommendations comprise a recommendation that one or morecomponents of the handle module be lubricated.

Example 115

The apparatus of Examples 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, or 114, wherein theone or more service recommendations comprise a recommendation that oneor more components of the handle module be inspected.

Example 116

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle including a batterycavity and a direct current electrical motor, a battery removablypositionable in the battery cavity, wherein the battery is configured tosupply direct current electrical power to the direct current electricalmotor, and a power adapter including a plug removably positionable inthe battery cavity in lieu of the battery and a cord extending from theplug, wherein the cord is configured to transmit power to the plug froma power source. The surgical instrument system further comprises analternating current to direct current power converter configured toconvert alternating current electrical power supplied from the powersource to direct current electrical power.

Example 117

The surgical instrument system of Example 116, wherein the alternatingcurrent to direct current power converter is positioned in the plug.

Example 118

The surgical instrument system of Examples 116 or 117, wherein thebattery comprises a battery housing, wherein the plug comprises a plughousing, and wherein the battery housing is analogous to the plughousing.

Example 119

The surgical instrument system of Examples 116, 117, or 118, wherein thehandle comprises a set of handle electrical contacts in the batterycavity, wherein the battery comprises a set of battery electricalcontacts configured to engage the handle electrical contacts when thebattery is positioned in the battery cavity, and wherein the plugcomprises a set of plug electrical contacts configured to engage thehandle electrical contacts when the plug is positioned in the batterycavity.

Example 120

The surgical instrument system of Examples 116, 117, 118, or 119,wherein the handle comprises a first set of handle electrical contactsand a second set of handle electrical contacts in the battery cavity,wherein the battery comprises a set of battery electrical contactsconfigured to engage the first set of handle electrical contacts whenthe battery is positioned in the battery cavity, and wherein the plugcomprises a set of plug electrical contacts configured to engage thesecond set of handle electrical contacts when the plug is positioned inthe battery cavity.

Example 121

The surgical instrument system of Examples 116, 117, 118, 119, or 120,wherein the alternating current to direct current power converter ispositioned in the handle and is in electrical communication with thesecond set of handle electrical contacts.

Example 122

The surgical instrument system of Examples 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, or121, further comprising a plurality of shaft assemblies, wherein eachshaft assembly is selectively engageable with the handle.

Example 123

The surgical instrument system of Example 122, wherein at least one ofthe shaft assemblies comprises a stapling cartridge.

Example 124

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle including a batterycavity and a direct current electrical motor, a power adapter includinga battery positioned in the battery cavity, wherein the batterycomprises at least one battery cell, an electrical connector, and a cordengageable with the electrical connector, wherein the cord is configuredto transmit power from a power source. The surgical instrument systemfurther comprises an alternating current to direct current powerconverter configured to convert alternating current electrical powersupplied from the power source to direct current electrical power andsupply direct current electrical power to the direct current electricalmotor.

Example 125

The surgical instrument system of Example 124, further comprising abattery circuit, wherein the at least one battery cell, the alternatingcurrent to direct current power converter, and the electrical connectorare arranged in series in the battery circuit such that the at least onebattery cell and the power source can supply power to the direct currentelectric motor when the cord is engaged with the electrical connector.

Example 126

The surgical instrument system of Example 124, further comprising afirst battery circuit segment, wherein the first battery circuit segmentincludes the at least one battery cell, a second battery circuitsegment, wherein the second battery circuit segment includes thealternating current to direct current power converter, and a switchpositioned in the battery, wherein the switch is switchable between afirst switch state in which the at least one battery cell can supplyelectrical power to the direct current electrical motor and the powersupply cannot supply electrical power to the direct current electricalmotor, and a second switch state in which the at least one battery cellcannot supply electrical power to the direct current electrical motorand the power supply can supply electrical power to the direct currentelectrical motor.

Example 127

The surgical instrument system of Example 126, wherein the switch isbiased into the first switch state.

Example 128

The surgical instrument system of Examples 126 or 127, wherein theinsertion of the cord into the battery electrical connector switches theswitch from the first switch state into the second switch state.

Example 129

The surgical instrument system of Example 128, further comprising abiasing member configured to return the switch into the first switchstate.

Example 130

The surgical instrument system of Examples 126, 127, or 128, wherein theswitch is incapable of being returned to the first switch state afterbeing placed in the second switch state.

Example 131

The surgical instrument system of Examples 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129,or 130, further comprising a plurality of shaft assemblies, wherein eachshaft assembly is selectively engageable with the handle.

Example 132

The surgical instrument system of Example 131, wherein at least one ofthe shaft assemblies comprises a stapling cartridge.

Example 133

A surgical instrument system comprising a handle including a handlehousing, a handle battery cell positioned in the handle housing, ahandle electrical circuit, wherein the handle battery cell is configuredto supply power to the handle electrical circuit, and a handleelectrical connector in communication with the handle electricalcircuit. The surgical instrument system further comprises a supplementalbattery selectively engageable with the handle, wherein the supplementalbattery comprises a battery housing engageable with the handle housing,a battery electrical circuit, a supplemental battery cell positioned inthe battery housing, wherein the supplemental battery cell is configuredto supply power to the battery electrical circuit, and a batteryelectrical connector in communication with the battery electricalcircuit, wherein the battery electrical connector is engageable with thehandle electrical connector when the supplemental battery is engagedwith the handle to place the battery electrical circuit in communicationwith the handle electrical circuit.

Example 134

The surgical instrument system of Example 133, wherein the handlehousing comprises a gripping portion, and wherein the battery housingcomprises a receptacle configured to receive the gripping portion.

Example 135

The surgical instrument system of Examples 133 or 134, wherein thehandle further comprises a connector cover movable between a firstposition in which the connector cover inhibits accidental contact withthe handle electrical connector and a second position in which theconnector cover permits the battery electrical connector to engage thehandle electrical connector.

Example 136

The surgical instrument system of Example 135, wherein the batteryhousing is configured to move the connector cover between the firstposition and the second position when the supplemental battery isengaged with the handle.

Example 137

The surgical instrument system of Examples 133, 134, 135, or 136,further comprising a plurality of shaft assemblies, wherein each shaftassembly is selectively engageable with the handle.

Example 138

The surgical instrument system of Example 137, wherein at least one ofthe shaft assemblies comprises a stapling cartridge.

Example 139

A surgical instrument comprising a housing, a motor, and a batteryassembly attachable to the housing of the surgical instrument, thebattery assembly comprising a battery cell configured to provideelectrical energy to the motor and a battery housing comprising asupport housing configured to support the battery cell, and a shockabsorbing element configured to absorb shock provided by an impactforce, wherein the shock absorbing element is configured to crumple whenan impact force is applied to the shock absorbing element.

Example 140

The surgical instrument of Example 139, wherein the shock absorbingelement is replaceable

Example 141

The surgical instrument of Examples 139 or 140, wherein the shockabsorbing element comprises attachment means configured to permit theshock absorbing element to be attached to the battery assembly in asnap-fit fashion.

Example 142

The surgical instrument of Example 141, wherein the attachment meanscomprises an adhesive.

Example 143

The surgical instrument of Examples 141 or 142, wherein the batteryhousing further comprises an aperture, and wherein the attachment meanscomprises a protrusion configured to be received by the aperture in thebattery housing in a wedge-fit fashion.

Example 144

The surgical instrument of Examples 139, 140, 141, 142, or 143, whereinthe shock absorbing element comprises a lattice structure.

Example 145

The surgical instrument of Examples 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, or 144wherein, when the shock absorbing element crumples, the shock absorbingelement deforms in an inward direction which still permits theattachment of the battery assembly to the housing of the surgicalinstrument after the shock absorbing element has been impacted.

Example 146

The surgical instrument of Examples 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, or145, wherein the shock absorbing element crumples when the impact forceis greater than a threshold force.

Example 147

The surgical instrument of Examples 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145,or 146 wherein the battery assembly further comprises a plurality ofcorners, wherein the battery housing further comprises a plurality ofthe shock absorbing elements, and wherein the plurality of shockabsorbing elements are positioned at each corner.

Example 148

The surgical instrument of Example 147, wherein the battery housingcomprises an electrical contact configured to transmit electrical energyfrom the battery cell to the motor and a bottom face associated with theelectrical contact, wherein each shock absorbing element comprises anend portion extending beyond the bottom face of the battery housing toprotect the electrical contact.

Example 149

The surgical instrument of Examples 148 or 149, wherein each shockabsorbing element comprises a bottom end and a top end, and wherein thebattery assembly further comprises a shock absorbing cap positioned atthe top ends of the shock absorbing elements.

Example 150

A battery assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the batteryassembly comprising a battery cell, an electrical contact configured totransmit electrical energy provided by the battery cell to the surgicalinstrument when the battery assembly is attached to the surgicalinstrument, a first housing configured to support the battery cell, asecond housing configured to house the first housing, and a shockabsorbing layer positioned between the first housing and the secondhousing, wherein the shock absorbing layer comprises a latticestructure.

Example 151

The battery assembly of Example 150, wherein the shock absorbing layercomprises a foam-like material.

Example 152

The battery assembly of Examples 150 or 151, wherein the latticestructure comprises a plurality of cells, the plurality of cellscomprising an inner cell comprising an inner planar wall, wherein theinner planar wall is oriented at least substantially parallel the firsthousing and an outer cell comprising an outer planar wall, wherein theouter planar wall is oriented at least substantially parallel the secondhousing.

Example 153

The battery assembly of Examples 150, 151, or 152, wherein the batteryassembly further comprises a shock absorbing cap, the shock absorbingcap comprising an outer lattice and an inner lattice, wherein the outerlattice is more dense than the inner lattice.

Example 154

The battery assembly of Examples 150, 151, 152, or 153, wherein theshock absorbing layer comprises a plurality of dampening elements.

Example 155

A battery assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the batteryassembly comprising a battery cell configured to provide power to thesurgical instrument and a housing comprising a heat reflecting shell, aheat sink layer, and a compressible layer positioned between the heatsink layer and the heat reflecting shell, wherein the compressible layeris configured to flex in response to expansion of the battery cell.

Example 156

The battery assembly of Example 155, wherein the compressible layer isfurther configured to dissipate impact energy absorbed by the heatreflecting shell.

Example 157

The battery assembly of Examples 155 or 156, wherein the compressiblelayer comprises a lattice structure.

Example 158

The battery assembly of Example 157, wherein the lattice structure is aclosed lattice structure defined by the heat reflecting shell and theheat sink layer.

Example 159

The battery assembly of Examples 155, 156, 157, or 158, wherein the heatreflecting shell comprises a first thermal expansion coefficient,wherein the heat sink layer comprises a second thermal expansioncoefficient, and wherein the first thermal expansion coefficient is lessthan the second thermal expansion coefficient.

The entire disclosures of the following documents are herebyincorporated by reference herein in their respective entireties:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,312, entitled ELECTROSURGICAL HEMOSTATIC        DEVICE, which issued on Apr. 4, 1995;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,818, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT        HAVING SEPARATE DISTINCT CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS, which        issued on Feb. 21, 2006;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,422,139, entitled MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING        AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH TACTILE POSITION FEEDBACK, which        issued on Sep. 9, 2008;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,464,849, entitled ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SURGICAL        INSTRUMENT WITH CLOSURE SYSTEM AND ANVIL ALIGNMENT COMPONENTS,        which issued on Dec. 16, 2008;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,670,334, entitled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING AN        ARTICULATING END EFFECTOR, which issued on Mar. 2, 2010;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,245, entitled SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS,        which issued on Jul. 13, 2010;    -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,514, entitled SELECTIVELY ORIENTABLE        IMPLANTABLE FASTENER CARTRIDGE, which issued on Mar. 12, 2013;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/343,803, entitled SURGICAL        INSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES; now U.S. Pat. No.        7,845,537;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/031,573, entitled SURGICAL        CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT HAVING RF ELECTRODES, filed        Feb. 14, 2008;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/031,873, entitled END        EFFECTORS FOR A SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT, filed        Feb. 15, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,443;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/235,782, entitled        MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT, now U.S. Pat. No.        8,210,411;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/249,117, entitled POWERED        SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH MANUALLY        RETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,045;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/647,100, entitled        MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT WITH ELECTRIC ACTUATOR        DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ASSEMBLY, filed Dec. 24, 2009; now U.S. Pat.        No. 8,220,688;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/893,461, entitled STAPLE        CARTRIDGE, filed Sep. 29, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,613;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/036,647, entitled SURGICAL        STAPLING INSTRUMENT, filed Feb. 28, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No.        8,561,870;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/118,241, entitled SURGICAL        STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT        ARRANGEMENTS, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.        2012/0298719;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/524,049, entitled        ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE,        filed on Jun. 15, 2012; now U.S. Patent Application Publication        No. 2013/0334278;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/800,025, entitled STAPLE        CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM, filed on Mar. 13,        2013;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/800,067, entitled STAPLE        CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM, filed on Mar. 13,        2013;    -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0175955, entitled        SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT WITH CLOSURE TRIGGER        LOCKING MECHANISM, filed Jan. 31, 2006; and    -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0264194, entitled        SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT WITH AN ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTOR,        filed Apr. 22, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,040.

Although the various embodiments of the devices have been describedherein in connection with certain disclosed embodiments, manymodifications and variations to those embodiments may be implemented.Also, where materials are disclosed for certain components, othermaterials may be used. Furthermore, according to various embodiments, asingle component may be replaced by multiple components, and multiplecomponents may be replaced by a single component, to perform a givenfunction or functions. The foregoing description and following claimsare intended to cover all such modification and variations.

The devices disclosed herein can be designed to be disposed of after asingle use, or they can be designed to be used multiple times. In eithercase, however, the device can be reconditioned for reuse after at leastone use. Reconditioning can include any combination of the steps ofdisassembly of the device, followed by cleaning or replacement ofparticular pieces, and subsequent reassembly. In particular, the devicecan be disassembled, and any number of the particular pieces or parts ofthe device can be selectively replaced or removed in any combination.Upon cleaning and/or replacement of particular parts, the device can bereassembled for subsequent use either at a reconditioning facility, orby a surgical team immediately prior to a surgical procedure. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that reconditioning of a device canutilize a variety of techniques for disassembly, cleaning/replacement,and reassembly. Use of such techniques, and the resulting reconditioneddevice, are all within the scope of the present application.

Preferably, the invention described herein will be processed beforesurgery. First, a new or used instrument is obtained and if necessarycleaned. The instrument can then be sterilized. In one sterilizationtechnique, the instrument is placed in a closed and sealed container,such as a plastic or TYVEK bag. The container and instrument are thenplaced in a field of radiation that can penetrate the container, such asgamma radiation, x-rays, or high-energy electrons. The radiation killsbacteria on the instrument and in the container. The sterilizedinstrument can then be stored in the sterile container. The sealedcontainer keeps the instrument sterile until it is opened in the medicalfacility.

While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, thepresent invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope ofthe disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its generalprinciples.

Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or inpart, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein isincorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated materialsdoes not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or otherdisclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to theextent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth hereinsupersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference.Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated byreference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions,statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only beincorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between thatincorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a handle modulecomprising: a cavity configured for receiving a removable battery; atleast one motor-driven rotary drive system; a handle module processorcircuit; and a handle module memory circuit, wherein the handle modulememory circuit is configured for storing handle module usage data forthe handle module; a detachable shaft module removably attachable to thehandle module, wherein the detachable shaft module comprises: a housing;a processor couplable to the handle module processor circuit, whereinthe handle module and the detachable shaft module are configured tocollectively perform a surgical procedure; and at least one switchingdevice coupled to the processor of the detachable shaft module; and aninspection station configured for insertion into the cavity of thehandle module when the handle module is not being used in the surgicalprocedure, wherein the inspection station comprises an inspectionstation processor circuit for determining one or more servicerecommendations for the handle module based on the handle module usagedata stored in the handle module memory circuit of the handle module andbased on service recommendation criteria.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the inspection station further comprises a display that is incommunication with the inspection station processor circuit, and whereinthe display is for displaying information about the one or more servicerecommendations.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the servicerecommendation criteria are stored in an inspection station memory ofthe inspection station, and wherein the inspection station processorcircuit is in communication with the inspection station memory.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle module processor circuit is incommunication with the handle module memory circuit, and wherein thehandle module processor circuit is in communication with the inspectionstation processor circuit when the handle module is connected to theinspection station such that usage data from the handle module memorycircuit is downloadable to the inspection station.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the handle module usage data comprises data selectedfrom the group consisting of: data regarding a number of surgicalprocedures involving the handle module; data regarding a number ofdevice firings by the handle module; data regarding the power expendedduring the device firings of the handle module; data regarding theforces experienced during the device firings of the handle module; dataregarding energy consumed by an electric motor of the handle module overthe life of the handle module; and data regarding gear backlash for arotary drive system of the handle module.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the one or more service recommendations comprise arecommendation that the handle module be rebuilt.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more service recommendations comprise arecommendation that one or more components of the handle module belubricated.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more servicerecommendations comprise a recommendation that one or more components ofthe handle module be inspected.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theinspection station is configured to receive the handle module.